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. 3Teresa of ÁvilaTeresa of Ávila1515–1582 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  4. 4Michel de MontaigneMichel de Montaigne1533–1592 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  5. 5Lope de VegaLope de Vega1562–1635 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  6. 6François RabelaisFrançois Rabelais1500–1553 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  7. 7Francis XavierFrancis Xavier1506–1552 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  8. 8Torquato TassoTorquato Tasso1544–1595 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers22 decades
  9. 9John of the CrossJohn of the Cross1542–1591 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  10. 10Hurrem SultanHurrem Sultandied 1558 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0 decades
  11. 11Bartolomé de las CasasBartolomé de las Casas1484–1566 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  12. 12Margaret of ValoisMargaret of Valois1553–1615 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  13. 13Ludovico AriostoLudovico Ariosto1474–1533 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers22 decades
  14. 14Pierre de RonsardPierre de Ronsard1524–1585 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers21 decades
  15. 15Étienne de La BoétieÉtienne de La Boétie1530–1563 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers3 decades
  16. 16Luis de GóngoraLuis de Góngora1561–1627 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  17. 17Garcilaso de la VegaGarcilaso de la Vega1503–1536 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  18. 18Christopher MarloweChristopher Marlowe1564–1593 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  19. 19Marguerite de NavarreMarguerite de Navarre1492–1549 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0 decades
  20. 20Joachim du BellayJoachim du Bellay1522–1560 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers9 decades
  21. 21Inca Garcilaso de la VegaInca Garcilaso de la Vega1539–1616 · Writers22 decades
  22. 22BaburBabur1483–1530 · Writers17 decades
  23. 23Louise LabéLouise Labé1524–1566 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers21 decades
  24. 24Luís de CamõesLuís de Camões1524–1580 · 🇵🇹 Portugal · Writers1 decades
  25. 25Wu Cheng'enWu Cheng'en1500–1582 · 🇨🇳 China · Writers9 decades
  26. 26Pietro AretinoPietro Aretino1492–1556 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers22 decades
  27. 27Hans SachsHans Sachs1494–1576 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers22 decades
  28. 28Antonio PigafettaAntonio Pigafetta1490–1530 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers20 decades
  29. 29John KnoxJohn Knox1514–1572 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  30. 30Fernando de RojasFernando de Rojas1465–1541 · Writers21 decades
  31. 31Francesco GuicciardiniFrancesco Guicciardini1483–1540 · Writers22 decades
  32. 32Baldassare CastiglioneBaldassare Castiglione1478–1529 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers22 decades
  33. 33Luis de LeónLuis de León1527–1591 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  34. 34Guru NanakGuru Nanak1469–1539 · Writers13 decades
  35. 35François de MalherbeFrançois de Malherbe1555–1628 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers18 decades
  36. 36Agrippa d'AubignéAgrippa d'Aubigné1552–1630 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers8 decades
  37. 37Vittoria ColonnaVittoria Colonna1492–1547 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers22 decades
  38. 38Nurbanu SultanNurbanu Sultan1525–1583 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0 decades
  39. 39Mihrimah SultanMihrimah Sultan1522–1578 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0 decades
  40. 40Götz von BerlichingenGötz von Berlichingen1480–1562 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers12 decades
  41. 41Qi JiguangQi Jiguang1528–1588 · 🇨🇳 China · Writers5 decades
  42. 42Şehzade CihangirŞehzade Cihangir1531–1553 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured—
  43. 43Oruç ReisOruç Reis1473–1518 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0 decades
  44. 44Edmund SpenserEdmund Spenser1552–1599 · Writers22 decades
  45. 45Şehzade BayezidŞehzade Bayezid1525–1561 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured—
  46. 46Alonso de ErcillaAlonso de Ercilla1533–1595 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  47. 47Thomas WyattThomas Wyatt1503–1542 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  48. 48Mateo AlemánMateo Alemán1547–1614 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers21 decades
  49. 49Joseph Justus ScaligerJoseph Justus Scaliger1540–1609 · Writers0 decades
  50. 50Justus LipsiusJustus Lipsius1547–1606 · Writers22 decades
  51. 51Heinrich BullingerHeinrich Bullinger1504–1575 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writers22 decades
  52. 52Maximus the GreekMaximus the Greek1475–1556 · Writers20 decades
  53. 53Philip SidneyPhilip Sidney1554–1586 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  54. 54Andrey KurbskyAndrey Kurbsky1528–1583 · Writers0 decades
  55. 55Matteo BandelloMatteo Bandello1485–1561 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  56. 56Veronica FrancoVeronica Franco1546–1591 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers20 decades
  57. 57José de AcostaJosé de Acosta1540–1600 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers21 decades
  58. 58Catherine de BourbonCatherine de Bourbon1559–1604 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  59. 59Paolo GiovioPaolo Giovio1483–1552 · Writers22 decades
  60. 60Gian Giorgio TrissinoGian Giorgio Trissino1478–1550 · Writers22 decades
  61. 61Gil VicenteGil Vicente1465–1536 · 🇵🇹 Portugal · Writers21 decades
  62. 62FuzûlîFuzûlî1494–1556 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0 decades
  63. 63Pierre de Bourdeille, seigneur de BrantômePierre de Bourdeille, seigneur de Brantôme1540–1614 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  64. 64Tang XianzuTang Xianzu1550–1616 · Writers7 decades
  65. 65Kılıç Ali PaşaKılıç Ali Paşa1519–1587 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured—
  66. 66Giambattista della PortaGiambattista della Porta1535–1615 · Writers0 decades
  67. 67Julius Caesar ScaligerJulius Caesar Scaliger1484–1558 · Writers7 decades
  68. 68Primož TrubarPrimož Trubar1508–1586 · Writers0 decades
  69. 69OMOlaus Magnus1490–1557 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Writers22 decades
  70. 70Jan KochanowskiJan Kochanowski1530–1584 · Writers0 decades
  71. 71Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of OxfordEdward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford1550–1604 · Writers9 decades
  72. 72MeeraMeera1498–1546 · 🇮🇳 India · Writersnot measured—
  73. 73Clément MarotClément Marot1495–1544 · Writers12 decades
  74. 74Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo y ValdésGonzalo Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés1478–1557 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers18 decades
  75. 75Juan de MarianaJuan de Mariana1536–1624 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  76. 76Ishikawa GoemonIshikawa Goemon1558–1594 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades
  77. 77Christophe PlantinChristophe Plantin1520–1589 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  78. 78TulsidasTulsidas1532–1623 · 🇮🇳 India · Writers11 decades
  79. 79Hamnet ShakespeareHamnet Shakespeare1585–1596 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers0 decades
  80. 80Pir Sultan AbdalPir Sultan Abdal1480–1550 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0 decades
  81. 81Joseph ben Ephraim KaroJoseph ben Ephraim Karo1488–1575 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers4 decades
  82. 82Thomas KydThomas Kyd1558–1594 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers16 decades
  83. 83Anne AskewAnne Askew1521–1546 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers14 decades
  84. 84Hieronymus WolfHieronymus Wolf1516–1580 · Writers0 decades
  85. 85Juan Ginés de SepúlvedaJuan Ginés de Sepúlveda1490–1573 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers21 decades
  86. 86Shin SaimdangShin Saimdang1504–1551 · 🇰🇷 South Korea · Writers0 decades
  87. 87Guru ArjanGuru Arjan1563–1606 · 🇮🇳 India · Writers6 decades
  88. 88George BuchananGeorge Buchanan1506–1582 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  89. 89Ogier Ghiselin de BusbecqOgier Ghiselin de Busbecq1522–1592 · Writers0 decades
  90. 90Giorgio BastaGiorgio Basta1550–1607 · Writers12 decades
  91. 91John HaringtonJohn Harington1560–1612 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  92. 92Richard HakluytRichard Hakluyt1552–1616 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  93. 93Nicolò da PonteNicolò da Ponte1491–1585 · Writers0 decades
  94. 94Guru Ram DasGuru Ram Das1534–1581 · Writers4 decades
  95. 95Sigismund von HerbersteinSigismund von Herberstein1486–1566 · Writers5 decades
  96. 96Luís FróisLuís Fróis1532–1597 · Writers0 decades
  97. 97HJHwang Jini1506–1544 · Writers0 decades
  98. 98George ChapmanGeorge Chapman1559–1634 · Writers22 decades
  99. 99Ippolito de' MediciIppolito de' Medici1511–1535 · Writers6 decades
  100. 100Edmund CampionEdmund Campion1540–1581 · Writers21 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.