Claim profile
1600–1699

The 17th century

Whose working lives fell in the 17th 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 17th century, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

CountryAll🇫🇷 France🇩🇪 Germany🇬🇧 United Kingdom🇯🇵 Japan🇹🇷 Turkey🇳🇱 Netherlands🇪🇸 Spain🇮🇹 Italy🇸🇪 Sweden🇨🇳 China
FieldAllWritersPoliticiansHistorical FiguresArtistsAcademicsScientistsMusiciansReligious FiguresActorsModels
  1. 1MolièreMolière1622–1673 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  2. 2Louis XIV of FranceLouis XIV of France1638–1715 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  3. 3René DescartesRené Descartes1596–1650 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics22 decades
  4. 4Blaise PascalBlaise Pascal1623–1662 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics22 decades
  5. 5Cardinal RichelieuCardinal Richelieu1585–1642 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  6. 6Jean de La FontaineJean de La Fontaine1621–1695 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  7. 7Pierre CorneillePierre Corneille1606–1684 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  8. 8Jean RacineJean Racine1639–1699 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  9. 9Louis XIII of FranceLouis XIII of France1601–1643 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  10. 10Charles PerraultCharles Perrault1628–1703 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  11. 11Cardinal MazarinCardinal Mazarin1602–1661 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures20 decades
  12. 12Marie de' MediciMarie de' Medici1575–1642 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  13. 13Nicolas PoussinNicolas Poussin1594–1665 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists22 decades
  14. 14Prince Eugene of SavoyPrince Eugene of Savoy1663–1736 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  15. 15Pierre de FermatPierre de Fermat1607–1665 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics8 decades
  16. 16François de La RochefoucauldFrançois de La Rochefoucauld1613–1680 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers18 decades
  17. 17Jean-Baptiste ColbertJean-Baptiste Colbert1619–1683 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  18. 18Cyrano de BergeracCyrano de Bergerac1619–1655 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0 decades
  19. 19Francis de SalesFrancis de Sales1567–1622 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures22 decades
  20. 20Samuel de ChamplainSamuel de Champlain1567–1635 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures17 decades
  21. 21Madame de SévignéMadame de Sévigné1626–1696 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers13 decades
  22. 22Nicolas Boileau-DespréauxNicolas Boileau-Despréaux1636–1711 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  23. 23Sébastien Le Prestre de VaubanSébastien Le Prestre de Vauban1633–1707 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists2 decades
  24. 24Jean de La BruyèreJean de La Bruyère1645–1696 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers17 decades
  25. 25François FénelonFrançois Fénelon1651–1715 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures22 decades
  26. 26Vincent de PaulVincent de Paul1581–1660 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures22 decades
  27. 27Philippe I, Duke of OrléansPhilippe I, Duke of Orléans1640–1701 · 🇫🇷 France22 decades
  28. 28Jacques-Bénigne BossuetJacques-Bénigne Bossuet1627–1704 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures22 decades
  29. 29Louis, Grand DauphinLouis, Grand Dauphin1661–1711 · 🇫🇷 France22 decades
  30. 30Georges de La TourGeorges de La Tour1593–1652 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists9 decades
  31. 31Françoise d'Aubigné, Marquise de MaintenonFrançoise d'Aubigné, Marquise de Maintenon1635–1719 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics22 decades
  32. 32Henrietta Maria of FranceHenrietta Maria of France1609–1669 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  33. 33Denis PapinDenis Papin1647–1713 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists19 decades
  34. 34Bernard Le Bovier de FontenelleBernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle1657–1757 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0 decades
  35. 35André Le NôtreAndré Le Nôtre1613–1700 · 🇫🇷 France · Architects10 decades
  36. 36Ninon de LenclosNinon de Lenclos1620–1705 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  37. 37Charles de Batz de Castelmore d'ArtagnanCharles de Batz de Castelmore d'Artagnan1611–1673 · 🇫🇷 France · Writersnot measured—
  38. 38Madame de La FayetteMadame de La Fayette1634–1693 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers17 decades
  39. 39Claude LorrainClaude Lorrain1600–1682 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists18 decades
  40. 40Madeleine de ScudéryMadeleine de Scudéry1607–1701 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers17 decades
  41. 41Margaret Mary AlacoqueMargaret Mary Alacoque1647–1690 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures18 decades
  42. 42Charles Le BrunCharles Le Brun1619–1690 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists22 decades
  43. 43Marc-Antoine CharpentierMarc-Antoine Charpentier1643–1704 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians9 decades
  44. 44Pierre BaylePierre Bayle1647–1706 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics22 decades
  45. 45Henrietta of EnglandHenrietta of England1644–1670 · 🇫🇷 France22 decades
  46. 46Françoise-Athénaïs de Rochechouart, Marquise de MontespanFrançoise-Athénaïs de Rochechouart, Marquise de Montespan1640–1707 · 🇫🇷 France22 decades
  47. 47Gaston, Duke of OrléansGaston, Duke of Orléans1608–1660 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures17 decades
  48. 48Louis, Grand CondéLouis, Grand Condé1621–1686 · 🇫🇷 France · Politiciansnot measured—
  49. 49Elisabeth of FranceElisabeth of France1602–1644 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians20 decades
  50. 50Pierre GassendiPierre Gassendi1592–1655 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics21 decades
  51. 51Nicolas MalebrancheNicolas Malebranche1638–1715 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics11 decades
  52. 52Jean-Baptiste de La SalleJean-Baptiste de La Salle1651–1719 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  53. 53François MansartFrançois Mansart1598–1666 · 🇫🇷 France · Architects21 decades
  54. 54René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La SalleRené-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle1643–1687 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  55. 55Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Viscount of TurenneHenri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Viscount of Turenne1611–1675 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  56. 56Paul ScarronPaul Scarron1610–1660 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  57. 57Hyacinthe RigaudHyacinthe Rigaud1659–1743 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists19 decades
  58. 58Marin MersenneMarin Mersenne1588–1648 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics17 decades
  59. 59Nicolas FouquetNicolas Fouquet1615–1680 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  60. 60Jules Hardouin-MansartJules Hardouin-Mansart1646–1708 · 🇫🇷 France · Architects12 decades
  61. 61François RavaillacFrançois Ravaillac1578–1610 · 🇫🇷 France12 decades
  62. 62Marin MaraisMarin Marais1656–1728 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians8 decades
  63. 63Jean François Paul de GondiJean François Paul de Gondi1613–1679 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  64. 64Jean MeslierJean Meslier1664–1729 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures22 decades
  65. 65Anne Marie Louise d'OrléansAnne Marie Louise d'Orléans1627–1693 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0 decades
  66. 66Louise de La VallièreLouise de La Vallière1644–1710 · 🇫🇷 France15 decades
  67. 67Louis Le VauLouis Le Vau1613–1670 · 🇫🇷 France · Architects11 decades
  68. 68Christine of FranceChristine of France1606–1663 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  69. 69François-Michel le Tellier, Marquis de LouvoisFrançois-Michel le Tellier, Marquis de Louvois1641–1691 · 🇫🇷 France · Politiciansnot measured—
  70. 70Simon VouetSimon Vouet1590–1649 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists22 decades
  71. 71Charles V, Duke of LorraineCharles V, Duke of Lorraine1643–1690 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures2 decades
  72. 72Honoré d'UrféHonoré d'Urfé1568–1625 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  73. 73Jane Frances de ChantalJane Frances de Chantal1572–1641 · 🇫🇷 France17 decades
  74. 74André-Hercule de FleuryAndré-Hercule de Fleury1653–1743 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0 decades
  75. 75Dom PérignonDom Pérignon1638–1715 · 🇫🇷 France10 decades
  76. 76François VatelFrançois Vatel1631–1671 · 🇫🇷 France0 decades
  77. 77Pierre Mignard IPierre Mignard I1612–1695 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists22 decades
  78. 78Claude Louis Hector de VillarsClaude Louis Hector de Villars1653–1734 · 🇫🇷 France · Politiciansnot measured—
  79. 79Roger de Rabutin, Comte de BussyRoger de Rabutin, Comte de Bussy1618–1693 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0 decades
  80. 80Jean EudesJean Eudes1601–1680 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures19 decades
  81. 81Pierre PugetPierre Puget1620–1694 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists22 decades
  82. 82Claude PerraultClaude Perrault1613–1688 · 🇫🇷 France · Architects22 decades
  83. 83Théophile de ViauThéophile de Viau1590–1626 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers19 decades
  84. 84François l'OlonnaisFrançois l'Olonnais1630–1667 · 🇫🇷 France0 decades
  85. 85Concino ConciniConcino Concini1569–1617 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians9 decades
  86. 86Joseph Pitton de TournefortJoseph Pitton de Tournefort1656–1708 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists5 decades
  87. 87Antoine de la Mothe CadillacAntoine de la Mothe Cadillac1658–1730 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  88. 88Edme MariotteEdme Mariotte1620–1684 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists0 decades
  89. 89Thomas CorneilleThomas Corneille1625–1709 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  90. 90Jean MabillonJean Mabillon1632–1707 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers21 decades
  91. 91Henri, Prince of CondéHenri, Prince of Condé1588–1646 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  92. 92Jean-Baptiste TavernierJean-Baptiste Tavernier1605–1689 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers5 decades
  93. 93Marie de GournayMarie de Gournay1565–1645 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers15 decades
  94. 94François Leclerc du TremblayFrançois Leclerc du Tremblay1577–1638 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  95. 95Nicolas de LargillièreNicolas de Largillière1656–1746 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists3 decades
  96. 96Jacques MarquetteJacques Marquette1637–1675 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures9 decades
  97. 97Marie ManciniMarie Mancini1639–1715 · 🇫🇷 France22 decades
  98. 98Marie Louise GonzagaMarie Louise Gonzaga1611–1667 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians13 decades
  99. 99Jeanne-Marie Bouvier de La Motte GuyonJeanne-Marie Bouvier de La Motte Guyon1648–1717 · 🇫🇷 France · Writersnot measured—
  100. 100Armand de Bourbon, Prince of ContiArmand de Bourbon, Prince of Conti1629–1666 · 🇫🇷 France0 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.