Claim profile
1600–1609

The 1600s

Whose working lives fell in the 1600s. Books are measured from 1800 and readers from 2015, so for this period we can say who lived then, not who was talked about then.

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 1600s, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1CaravaggioCaravaggio1571–1610 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  2. 2James VI and IJames VI and I1566–1625 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures5 decades
  3. 3Johannes KeplerJohannes Kepler1571–1630 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics18 decades
  4. 4Guy FawkesGuy Fawkes1570–1606 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians22 decades
  5. 5Pope Urban VIIIPope Urban VIII1568–1644 · Religious Figures22 decades
  6. 6Claudio MonteverdiClaudio Monteverdi1567–1643 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians14 decades
  7. 7False Dmitry IFalse Dmitry I1600–1606 · Historical Figures10 decades
  8. 8Francis de SalesFrancis de Sales1567–1622 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures22 decades
  9. 9Samuel de ChamplainSamuel de Champlain1567–1635 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures17 decades
  10. 10Tommaso CampanellaTommaso Campanella1568–1639 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics22 decades
  11. 11Feodor II of RussiaFeodor II of Russia1589–1605 · Scientistsnot measured—
  12. 12Pope Innocent XPope Innocent X1574–1655 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures3 decades
  13. 13John DonneJohn Donne1572–1631 · Writers22 decades
  14. 14Mehmed IIIMehmed III1566–1603 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Models0 decades
  15. 15JahangirJahangir1569–1627 · 🇮🇳 India · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  16. 16Sigismund III VasaSigismund III Vasa1566–1632 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Historical Figures0 decades
  17. 17Henry HudsonHenry Hudsonborn 1565 · Historical Figures22 decades
  18. 18Anne of DenmarkAnne of Denmark1574–1619 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures6 decades
  19. 19Carlo GesualdoCarlo Gesualdo1566–1613 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians20 decades
  20. 20Maximilian I, Elector of BavariaMaximilian I, Elector of Bavaria1573–1651 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  21. 21Giambattista BasileGiambattista Basile1566–1632 · Writers15 decades
  22. 22Ben JonsonBen Jonson1572–1637 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  23. 23Abbas the GreatAbbas the Great1571–1629 · Historical Figures13 decades
  24. 24Jan Brueghel the ElderJan Brueghel the Elder1568–1625 · Artists0 decades
  25. 25Giambattista MarinoGiambattista Marino1569–1625 · Writers12 decades
  26. 26Maurice, Prince of OrangeMaurice, Prince of Orange1567–1625 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politiciansnot measured—
  27. 27Isabella Clara EugeniaIsabella Clara Eugenia1566–1633 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians5 decades
  28. 28Kuzma MininKuzma Minindied 1616 · Politicians18 decades
  29. 29Michael PraetoriusMichael Praetorius1571–1621 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians15 decades
  30. 30Ambrogio Spinola, 1st Marquis of the BalbasesAmbrogio Spinola, 1st Marquis of the Balbases1569–1630 · 🇪🇸 Spain9 decades
  31. 31Simon MariusSimon Marius1573–1624 · Academics15 decades
  32. 32Honoré d'UrféHonoré d'Urfé1568–1625 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  33. 33Jane Frances de ChantalJane Frances de Chantal1572–1641 · 🇫🇷 France17 decades
  34. 34Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of EssexRobert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex1565–1601 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politiciansnot measured—
  35. 35Date MasamuneDate Masamune1567–1636 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  36. 36John Sigismund, Elector of BrandenburgJohn Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg1572–1619 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  37. 37Hasekura TsunenagaHasekura Tsunenaga1571–1622 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figures0 decades
  38. 38Hans LippersheyHans Lippershey1570–1619 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists1 decades
  39. 39Inigo JonesInigo Jones1573–1652 · Architects22 decades
  40. 40Concino ConciniConcino Concini1569–1617 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians9 decades
  41. 41Robert CatesbyRobert Catesby1573–1605 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom10 decades
  42. 42Christina of LorraineChristina of Lorraine1565–1637 · Historical Figures21 decades
  43. 43Pedro Fernandes de QueirósPedro Fernandes de Queirós1565–1614 · Historical Figures14 decades
  44. 44Marie de GournayMarie de Gournay1565–1645 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers15 decades
  45. 45Robert FluddRobert Fludd1574–1637 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics16 decades
  46. 46Johann BayerJohann Bayer1572–1625 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists8 decades
  47. 47WJWillem Janszoon1570–1630 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Historical Figures0 decades
  48. 48Frederick IV, Elector PalatineFrederick IV, Elector Palatine1574–1610not measured—
  49. 49Sawney BeanSawney Bean1600–1600 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom0 decades
  50. 50William LaudWilliam Laud1573–1645 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics22 decades
  51. 51Go-YōzeiGo-Yōzei1571–1617 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figures0 decades
  52. 52HSHandan Sultan1570–1605 · 🇹🇷 Turkey0 decades
  53. 53Karl I, Prince of LiechtensteinKarl I, Prince of Liechtenstein1569–1627 · Historical Figures22 decades
  54. 54LVLuís Vaz de Torresborn 1565 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures2 decades
  55. 55Mulla SadraMulla Sadra1571–1641 · Academics4 decades
  56. 56Ranuccio I FarneseRanuccio I Farnese1569–1622 · Politicians19 decades
  57. 57Maurice, Landgrave of Hesse-KasselMaurice, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel1572–1632 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  58. 58Giovanni BaglioneGiovanni Baglione1566–1643 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists14 decades
  59. 59Cornelis DrebbelCornelis Drebbel1572–1633 · Scientistsnot measured—
  60. 60Giuseppe CesariGiuseppe Cesari1568–1640 · Artists21 decades
  61. 61William OughtredWilliam Oughtred1574–1660 · Academics1 decades
  62. 62Ambrosius BosschaertAmbrosius Bosschaert1573–1621 · Artists0 decades
  63. 63Sigismund BáthorySigismund Báthory1572–1613 · Politicians0 decades
  64. 64Magdalena de PazziMagdalena de Pazzi1566–1607 · Writers22 decades
  65. 65Izumo no OkuniIzumo no Okuniborn 1572 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  66. 66Sanada YukimuraSanada Yukimura1567–1615 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  67. 67Eleanor de' MediciEleanor de' Medici1567–1611not measured—
  68. 68Christina of Schleswig-Holstein-GottorpChristina of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp1573–1625 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured—
  69. 69Christian IChristian I1568–1630 · Politiciansnot measured—
  70. 70Jan Mourad JanszoonJan Mourad Janszoon1570–1641 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Politiciansnot measured—
  71. 71Heinrich Matthias von ThurnHeinrich Matthias von Thurn1567–1640 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers2 decades
  72. 72WZWei Zhongxian1568–1627 · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians2 decades
  73. 73Willem BlaeuWillem Blaeu1571–1638 · Scientists0 decades
  74. 74John, Duke of Saxe-WeimarJohn, Duke of Saxe-Weimar1570–1605 · 🇩🇪 Germanynot measured—
  75. 75Francis II, Duke of LorraineFrancis II, Duke of Lorraine1572–1632 · 🇫🇷 France0 decades
  76. 76Francesco ErizzoFrancesco Erizzo1566–1646 · Politicians21 decades
  77. 77Leonora DoriLeonora Dori1568–16170 decades
  78. 78Jan Karol ChodkiewiczJan Karol Chodkiewicz1571–1621 · Politicians0 decades
  79. 79Emilia LanierEmilia Lanier1569–1645 · Writers0 decades
  80. 80Richard BurbageRichard Burbage1567–1619 · Actors22 decades
  81. 81Thomas NasheThomas Nashe1567–1601 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers20 decades
  82. 82Charles of Lorraine, duke of GuiseCharles of Lorraine, duke of Guise1571–1640 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  83. 83Michał SędziwójMichał Sędziwój1566–1636 · Writersnot measured—
  84. 84Cyril LucarisCyril Lucaris1572–1638 · 🇹🇷 Turkey0 decades
  85. 85Reza AbbasiReza Abbasi1565–1635 · Artists0 decades
  86. 86TMThomas Mun1571–1641 · Academics5 decades
  87. 87DMDerviş Mehmed Paşa1569–1606 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Politiciansnot measured—
  88. 88Maria PitaMaria Pita1565–1643 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Business Professionals0 decades
  89. 89John SmythJohn Smyth1570–1612 · Actors22 decades
  90. 90Virginia de' MediciVirginia de' Medici1568–1615 · Politicians0 decades
  91. 91Ukita HideieUkita Hideie1572–1655 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  92. 92Kara Davud PashaKara Davud Pasha1570–1623 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Politiciansnot measured—
  93. 93Ernest Casimir I, Count of Nassau-DietzErnest Casimir I, Count of Nassau-Dietz1573–1632 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians13 decades
  94. 94Alexander, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-SonderburgAlexander, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg1573–1627not measured—
  95. 95Fakhr-al-Din IIFakhr-al-Din II1572–1635 · 🇹🇷 Turkeynot measured—
  96. 96FMFeng Menglong1574–1645 · 🇨🇳 China · Writers5 decades
  97. 97Kobayakawa HideakiKobayakawa Hideaki1577–1602 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  98. 98Jagat GosainJagat Gosain1573–16190 decades
  99. 99Nef'iNef'i1572–1635 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0 decades
  100. 100Giorgi SaakadzeGiorgi Saakadze1570–1629 · Politicians0 decades

How this is measured

  • Placing people in time. Each person belongs to the century in which they were most active — around age 35, and never after their death.
  • Who ranks highest. Within a century, people are ranked where two independent signals agree: how many of the world’s Wikipedia language editions cover them, and how many people actually read about them. Article counts alone can be lifted by a person’s own circle; readers cannot.
  • Fame in print. The curves count how often a name appears in Google Books from 1800 to 2019, as a share of all the words printed each year, in the person’s own language wherever that corpus exists. Those decades are over, so each measurement is made once and kept.
  • What is left out. A lifetime is measured only from 1820, when there is enough print to judge; the five years after a death are skipped as obituaries; and a name shared with someone equally notable is credited to neither.