Claim profile
1500–1599

The 16th century

Whose working lives fell in the 16th century. 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 16th century, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

CountryAll🇪🇸 Spain🇫🇷 France🇯🇵 Japan🇩🇪 Germany🇮🇹 Italy🇹🇷 Turkey🇬🇧 United Kingdom🇸🇪 Sweden🇨🇭 Switzerland🇮🇳 India
FieldAllHistorical FiguresWritersPoliticiansArtistsAcademicsReligious FiguresMusiciansScientistsModelsActors
  1. 1Miguel de CervantesMiguel de Cervantes1547–1616 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  2. 2William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare1564–1616 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  3. 3Martin LutherMartin Luther1483–1546 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures22 decades
  4. 4Elizabeth I of EnglandElizabeth I of England1533–1603 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom6 decades
  5. 5MichelangeloMichelangelo1475–1564 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  6. 6Galileo GalileiGalileo Galilei1564–1642 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Scientists22 decades
  7. 7Hernán CortésHernán Cortés1485–1547 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures22 decades
  8. 8Henry VIII of EnglandHenry VIII of England1491–1547 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures13 decades
  9. 9Ivan the TerribleIvan the Terrible1530–1584 · Politicians19 decades
  10. 10Nicolaus CopernicusNicolaus Copernicus1473–1543 · Academics8 decades
  11. 11Charles V, Holy Roman EmperorCharles V, Holy Roman Emperor1500–1558 · Historical Figures22 decades
  12. 12Niccolò MachiavelliNiccolò Machiavelli1469–1527 · Politicians22 decades
  13. 13Mary, Queen of ScotsMary, Queen of Scots1542–1587 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures22 decades
  14. 14Philip II of SpainPhilip II of Spain1527–1598 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Models22 decades
  15. 15Albrecht DürerAlbrecht Dürer1471–1528 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Artists22 decades
  16. 16Giordano BrunoGiordano Bruno1548–1600 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics22 decades
  17. 17Ferdinand MagellanFerdinand Magellan1480–1521 · 🇵🇹 Portugal · Historical Figures22 decades
  18. 18Anne BoleynAnne Boleyn1501–1536 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures22 decades
  19. 19Henry IV of FranceHenry IV of France1553–1610 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures10 decades
  20. 20Vasco da GamaVasco da Gama1469–1524 · 🇵🇹 Portugal · Historical Figures22 decades
  21. 21RaphaelRaphael1483–1520 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  22. 22NostradamusNostradamus1503–1566 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics22 decades
  23. 23Teresa of ÁvilaTeresa of Ávila1515–1582 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  24. 24Mary I of EnglandMary I of England1516–1558 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures22 decades
  25. 25Francis I of FranceFrancis I of France1494–1547 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  26. 26ErasmusErasmus1466–1536 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  27. 27Thomas MoreThomas More1478–1535 · Politicians22 decades
  28. 28Michel de MontaigneMichel de Montaigne1533–1592 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  29. 29Suleiman the MagnificentSuleiman the Magnificent1494–1566 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Politicians11 decades
  30. 30Ignatius of LoyolaIgnatius of Loyola1491–1556 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures22 decades
  31. 31Edward VI of EnglandEdward VI of England1537–1553 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures0 decades
  32. 32Lope de VegaLope de Vega1562–1635 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  33. 33Jacques CartierJacques Cartier1491–1557 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  34. 34François RabelaisFrançois Rabelais1500–1553 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  35. 35John CalvinJohn Calvin1509–1564 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics22 decades
  36. 36Catherine of AragonCatherine of Aragon1485–1536 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians20 decades
  37. 37Francisco PizarroFrancisco Pizarro1478–1541 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures22 decades
  38. 38El GrecoEl Greco1541–1614 · Artists15 decades
  39. 39ParacelsusParacelsus1493–1541 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Doctors22 decades
  40. 40Francis DrakeFrancis Drake1540–1596 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures22 decades
  41. 41Catherine de' MediciCatherine de' Medici1519–1589 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  42. 42Pope Leo XPope Leo X1475–1521 · Religious Figures22 decades
  43. 43TitianTitian1490–1576 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  44. 44Joanna of CastileJoanna of Castile1479–1555 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures3 decades
  45. 45Henry II of FranceHenry II of France1519–1559 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  46. 46Henry III of FranceHenry III of France1551–1589 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures4 decades
  47. 47Boris GodunovBoris Godunov1552–1605 · Politicians22 decades
  48. 48Lucrezia BorgiaLucrezia Borgia1480–1519 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures22 decades
  49. 49Lady Jane GreyLady Jane Grey1537–1554 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom22 decades
  50. 50Huldrych ZwingliHuldrych Zwingli1484–1531 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Academics9 decades
  51. 51Tycho BraheTycho Brahe1546–1601 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Scientists22 decades
  52. 52Pieter Bruegel the ElderPieter Bruegel the Elder1525–1569 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Artists0 decades
  53. 53Francis BaconFrancis Bacon1561–1626 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics22 decades
  54. 54Francis XavierFrancis Xavier1506–1552 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  55. 55Pope Paul IIIPope Paul III1468–1549 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  56. 56Charles IX of FranceCharles IX of France1550–1574 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  57. 57Ferdinand I, Holy Roman EmperorFerdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor1503–1564 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0 decades
  58. 58Francis II of FranceFrancis II of France1544–1560 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  59. 59Torquato TassoTorquato Tasso1544–1595 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers22 decades
  60. 60Pope Clement VIIPope Clement VII1478–1534 · Religious Figures22 decades
  61. 61John of the CrossJohn of the Cross1542–1591 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  62. 62Hurrem SultanHurrem Sultandied 1558 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0 decades
  63. 63Catherine HowardCatherine Howard1523–1542 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures22 decades
  64. 64Tokugawa IeyasuTokugawa Ieyasu1543–1616 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figures8 decades
  65. 65Feodor I of RussiaFeodor I of Russia1557–1598 · Politiciansnot measured—
  66. 66Bartolomé de las CasasBartolomé de las Casas1484–1566 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  67. 67Giorgio VasariGiorgio Vasari1511–1574 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  68. 68Margaret of ValoisMargaret of Valois1553–1615 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  69. 69Oda NobunagaOda Nobunaga1534–1582 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figures8 decades
  70. 70Ludovico AriostoLudovico Ariosto1474–1533 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers22 decades
  71. 71William the SilentWilliam the Silent1533–1584 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians22 decades
  72. 72Anne of ClevesAnne of Cleves1515–1557 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures4 decades
  73. 73Pierre de RonsardPierre de Ronsard1524–1585 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers21 decades
  74. 74Andrea PalladioAndrea Palladio1508–1580 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects22 decades
  75. 75Pope Sixtus VPope Sixtus V1521–1590 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  76. 76Étienne de La BoétieÉtienne de La Boétie1530–1563 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers3 decades
  77. 77Catherine ParrCatherine Parr1512–1548 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures22 decades
  78. 78Vasili III of RussiaVasili III of Russia1479–1533 · Politicians12 decades
  79. 79Elizabeth BáthoryElizabeth Báthory1560–1614 · Historical Figures0 decades
  80. 80Pope Paul VPope Paul V1552–1621 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  81. 81Pope Gregory XIIIPope Gregory XIII1502–1585 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  82. 82Cesare BorgiaCesare Borgia1475–1507 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures22 decades
  83. 83Juan Sebastián ElcanoJuan Sebastián Elcano1486–1526 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures14 decades
  84. 84Philip I of CastilePhilip I of Castile1478–1506 · Models3 decades
  85. 85Anne of BrittanyAnne of Brittany1477–1514 · 🇫🇷 France22 decades
  86. 86Philip MelanchthonPhilip Melanchthon1497–1560 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists22 decades
  87. 87Giovanni Pierluigi da PalestrinaGiovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina1525–1594 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians16 decades
  88. 88TintorettoTintoretto1519–1594 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  89. 89Thomas CromwellThomas Cromwell1485–1540 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians22 decades
  90. 90Hans Holbein the YoungerHans Holbein the Younger1497–1543 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Artists18 decades
  91. 91Rudolf II, Holy Roman EmperorRudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor1552–1612 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures22 decades
  92. 92Vasili IV of RussiaVasili IV of Russia1552–1612 · Historical Figures21 decades
  93. 93Luis de GóngoraLuis de Góngora1561–1627 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  94. 94Toyotomi HideyoshiToyotomi Hideyoshi1537–1598 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians8 decades
  95. 95Garcilaso de la VegaGarcilaso de la Vega1503–1536 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  96. 96Thomas MüntzerThomas Müntzer1489–1525 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures15 decades
  97. 97Selim ISelim I1470–1520 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Historical Figures11 decades
  98. 98Mary Tudor, Queen of FranceMary Tudor, Queen of France1496–1533 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  99. 99Elizabeth of YorkElizabeth of York1466–1503 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom22 decades
  100. 100Mimar SinanMimar Sinan1490–1588 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Architects1 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.