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. 1Ivan the TerribleIvan the Terrible1530–1584 · Politicians19 decades
  2. 2Niccolò MachiavelliNiccolò Machiavelli1469–1527 · Politicians22 decades
  3. 3Thomas MoreThomas More1478–1535 · Politicians22 decades
  4. 4Suleiman the MagnificentSuleiman the Magnificent1494–1566 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Politicians11 decades
  5. 5Catherine of AragonCatherine of Aragon1485–1536 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians20 decades
  6. 6Henry II of FranceHenry II of France1519–1559 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  7. 7Boris GodunovBoris Godunov1552–1605 · Politicians22 decades
  8. 8Francis II of FranceFrancis II of France1544–1560 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  9. 9Feodor I of RussiaFeodor I of Russia1557–1598 · Politiciansnot measured—
  10. 10William the SilentWilliam the Silent1533–1584 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians22 decades
  11. 11Vasili III of RussiaVasili III of Russia1479–1533 · Politicians12 decades
  12. 12Thomas CromwellThomas Cromwell1485–1540 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians22 decades
  13. 13Toyotomi HideyoshiToyotomi Hideyoshi1537–1598 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians8 decades
  14. 14Hayreddin BarbarossaHayreddin Barbarossa1478–1546 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Politiciansnot measured—
  15. 15Isabella of PortugalIsabella of Portugal1503–1539 · 🇵🇹 Portugal · Politicians22 decades
  16. 16Margaret TudorMargaret Tudor1489–1541 · Politicians19 decades
  17. 17Edward V of EnglandEdward V of Englandborn 1470 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians0 decades
  18. 18Moctezuma IIMoctezuma II1466–1520 · Politicians1 decades
  19. 19Pedro de ValdiviaPedro de Valdivia1497–1553 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians22 decades
  20. 20Walter RaleighWalter Raleigh1552–1618 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians22 decades
  21. 21John of AustriaJohn of Austria1547–1578 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians22 decades
  22. 22Claude of FranceClaude of France1499–1524 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  23. 23Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of AlbaFernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba1507–1582 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politiciansnot measured—
  24. 24Jeanne d'AlbretJeanne d'Albret1528–1572 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  25. 25Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of TuscanyCosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany1519–1574 · Politicians22 decades
  26. 26Henry Stuart, Lord DarnleyHenry Stuart, Lord Darnley1545–1567 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians0 decades
  27. 27Matthias, Holy Roman EmperorMatthias, Holy Roman Emperor1557–1619 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Politiciansnot measured—
  28. 28Eleanor of AustriaEleanor of Austria1498–1558 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians12 decades
  29. 29Antoine of NavarreAntoine of Navarre1518–1562 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  30. 30Andrea DoriaAndrea Doria1466–1560 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians22 decades
  31. 31Henry I, Duke of GuiseHenry I, Duke of Guise1550–1588 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  32. 32Alexander Farnese, Duke of ParmaAlexander Farnese, Duke of Parma1545–1592 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians21 decades
  33. 33Anna of Austria, Queen of SpainAnna of Austria, Queen of Spain1549–1580 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians22 decades
  34. 34Alonso de OjedaAlonso de Ojeda1466–1515 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians22 decades
  35. 35Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of LeicesterRobert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester1532–1588 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians22 decades
  36. 36Francis Borgia, 4th Duke of GandíaFrancis Borgia, 4th Duke of Gandía1510–1572 · Politicians22 decades
  37. 37Jean de Valette ParisotJean de Valette Parisot1494–1568 · 🇫🇷 France · Politiciansnot measured—
  38. 38Francis, Duke of GuiseFrancis, Duke of Guise1519–1563 · 🇫🇷 France · Politiciansnot measured—
  39. 39Sebastian of PortugalSebastian of Portugal1554–1578 · 🇵🇹 Portugal · Politicians6 decades
  40. 40Lorenzo de' Medici, Duke of UrbinoLorenzo de' Medici, Duke of Urbino1492–1519 · Politicians22 decades
  41. 41Stephen BáthoryStephen Báthory1533–1586 · Politicians0 decades
  42. 42Louise of SavoyLouise of Savoy1476–1531 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians17 decades
  43. 43Şehzade MustafaŞehzade Mustafa1515–1553 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Politicians0 decades
  44. 44Pargalı Ibrahim PashaPargalı Ibrahim Pasha1495–1536 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Politiciansnot measured—
  45. 45Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of SullyMaximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully1560–1641 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  46. 46Louis, Prince of CondéLouis, Prince of Condé1530–1569 · 🇫🇷 France · Politiciansnot measured—
  47. 47Piero the UnfortunatePiero the Unfortunate1472–1503 · Politicians0 decades
  48. 48John III of PortugalJohn III of Portugal1502–1557 · 🇵🇹 Portugal · Politicians0 decades
  49. 49Sokollu Mehmed PashaSokollu Mehmed Pasha1505–1579 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Politicians0 decades
  50. 50Joanna of Austria, Princess of PortugalJoanna of Austria, Princess of Portugal1535–1573 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians22 decades
  51. 51Alessandro de' Medici, Duke of FlorenceAlessandro de' Medici, Duke of Florence1510–1537 · Politicians11 decades
  52. 52Thomas Seymour, 1st Baron Seymour of SudeleyThomas Seymour, 1st Baron Seymour of Sudeley1508–1549 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians22 decades
  53. 53Sigismund II AugustusSigismund II Augustus1520–1572 · Politicians0 decades
  54. 54Hafsa SultanHafsa Sultan1479–1534 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Politicians0 decades
  55. 55Yeonsangun of JoseonYeonsangun of Joseon1476–1506 · 🇰🇷 South Korea · Politiciansnot measured—
  56. 56Florian GeyerFlorian Geyer1490–1525 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians18 decades
  57. 57Leo AfricanusLeo Africanus1494–1600 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians15 decades
  58. 58Anne de MontmorencyAnne de Montmorency1493–1567 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  59. 59Francis WalsinghamFrancis Walsingham1532–1590 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians22 decades
  60. 60Infanta Catherine Michelle of SpainInfanta Catherine Michelle of Spain1567–1597 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians0 decades
  61. 61Rüstem PashaRüstem Pasha1500–1561 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Politicians0 decades
  62. 62Jean NicotJean Nicot1530–1605 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  63. 63John Dudley, 1st Duke of NorthumberlandJohn Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland1504–1553 · Politiciansnot measured—
  64. 64Eleanor of ToledoEleanor of Toledo1522–1562 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politiciansnot measured—
  65. 65William Cecil, 1st Baron BurghleyWilliam Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley1520–1598 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politiciansnot measured—
  66. 66Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of NorfolkThomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk1473–1554 · Politiciansnot measured—
  67. 67Alfonso I d'Este, Duke of FerraraAlfonso I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara1476–1534 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0 decades
  68. 68Giuliano de' Medici, Duke of NemoursGiuliano de' Medici, Duke of Nemours1479–1516 · Politiciansnot measured—
  69. 69Zhang JuzhengZhang Juzheng1525–1582 · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians7 decades
  70. 70Diego ColumbusDiego Columbus1479–1526 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politiciansnot measured—
  71. 71Antonio de MendozaAntonio de Mendoza1490–1552 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians0 decades
  72. 72Ana de Mendoza, Princess of EboliAna de Mendoza, Princess of Eboli1540–1592 · Politiciansnot measured—
  73. 73John HawkinsJohn Hawkins1532–1595 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians22 decades
  74. 74Sonam GyatsoSonam Gyatso1543–1588 · Politicians0 decades
  75. 75Lawrence of BrindisiLawrence of Brindisi1559–1619 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians22 decades
  76. 76Michel de l'HôpitalMichel de l'Hôpital1505–1573 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians20 decades
  77. 77John, Elector of SaxonyJohn, Elector of Saxony1468–1532 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians22 decades
  78. 78Francisco Gómez de Sandoval, 1st Duke of LermaFrancisco Gómez de Sandoval, 1st Duke of Lerma1553–1625 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politiciansnot measured—
  79. 79Ottavio FarneseOttavio Farnese1524–1586 · Politicians22 decades
  80. 80Francisco de Toledo, Count of OropesaFrancisco de Toledo, Count of Oropesa1515–1582 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians22 decades
  81. 81George, Duke of SaxonyGeorge, Duke of Saxony1471–1539 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians15 decades
  82. 82Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of SalisburyRobert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury1563–1612 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politiciansnot measured—
  83. 83Sebastiano VenierSebastiano Venier1496–1578 · Politicians21 decades
  84. 84Nikola Šubić ZrinskiNikola Šubić Zrinski1508–1566 · Politicians0 decades
  85. 85Sayyida al-HurraSayyida al-Hurra1485–1561 · Politicians0 decades
  86. 86Pier Luigi FarnesePier Luigi Farnese1503–1547 · Politicians16 decades
  87. 87Lala Kara Mustafa PaşaLala Kara Mustafa Paşa1500–1580 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Politiciansnot measured—
  88. 88ŞSŞah Sultan1500–1572 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Politicians0 decades
  89. 89Emanuele Filiberto I, Duke of SavoyEmanuele Filiberto I, Duke of Savoy1528–1580 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians17 decades
  90. 90Dmitry of UglichDmitry of Uglich1582–1591 · Politicians0 decades
  91. 91Ercole II d'Este, Duke of FerraraErcole II d'Este, Duke of Ferrara1508–1559 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0 decades
  92. 92Lamoral, Count of EgmontLamoral, Count of Egmont1522–1568 · Politiciansnot measured—
  93. 93Stephen BocskaiStephen Bocskai1557–1606 · Politicians0 decades
  94. 94Ibrahim LodiIbrahim Lodi1480–1526 · 🇮🇳 India · Politicians4 decades
  95. 95Johan van OldenbarneveltJohan van Oldenbarnevelt1547–1619 · Politicians0 decades
  96. 96Kunigunde of AustriaKunigunde of Austria1465–1520 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Politicians0 decades
  97. 97Antonio PérezAntonio Pérez1534–1611 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politiciansnot measured—
  98. 98Archduke Ernest of AustriaArchduke Ernest of Austria1553–1595 · Politicians5 decades
  99. 99Guglielmo GonzagaGuglielmo Gonzaga1538–1587 · Politicians22 decades
  100. 100Anna of SaxonyAnna of Saxony1544–1577 · Politicians21 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.