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. 1Cardinal RichelieuCardinal Richelieu1585–1642 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  2. 2Cardinal MazarinCardinal Mazarin1602–1661 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures20 decades
  3. 3Francis de SalesFrancis de Sales1567–1622 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures22 decades
  4. 4Vincent de PaulVincent de Paul1581–1660 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures22 decades
  5. 5François FénelonFrançois Fénelon1651–1715 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures22 decades
  6. 6Jacques-Bénigne BossuetJacques-Bénigne Bossuet1627–1704 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures22 decades
  7. 7Margaret Mary AlacoqueMargaret Mary Alacoque1647–1690 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures18 decades
  8. 8Jean-Baptiste de La SalleJean-Baptiste de La Salle1651–1719 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  9. 9Jean François Paul de GondiJean François Paul de Gondi1613–1679 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  10. 10Jean MeslierJean Meslier1664–1729 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures22 decades
  11. 11André-Hercule de FleuryAndré-Hercule de Fleury1653–1743 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0 decades
  12. 12Jean EudesJean Eudes1601–1680 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures19 decades
  13. 13Henri, Prince of CondéHenri, Prince of Condé1588–1646 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  14. 14Urbain GrandierUrbain Grandier1590–1634 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures22 decades
  15. 15Claude de la ColombièreClaude de la Colombière1641–1682 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures1 decades
  16. 16Louis, Duke of VendômeLouis, Duke of Vendôme1612–1669 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  17. 17Antonio BarberiniAntonio Barberini1607–1671 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures22 decades
  18. 18Louis-Isaac Lemaistre de SacyLouis-Isaac Lemaistre de Sacy1613–1684 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  19. 19Philippe CoupletPhilippe Couplet1623–1693 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0 decades
  20. 20Alphonse-Louis du Plessis de RichelieuAlphonse-Louis du Plessis de Richelieu1582–1653 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  21. 21Louis III of Lorraine, cardinal of GuiseLouis III of Lorraine, cardinal of Guise1575–1621 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures22 decades
  22. 22Nicolas BarréNicolas Barré1621–1686 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures9 decades
  23. 23Noël ChabanelNoël Chabanel1613–1649 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures4 decades
  24. 24Jean-François de GondiJean-François de Gondi1584–1654 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures20 decades
  25. 25Pierre Lambert de la MottePierre Lambert de la Motte1624–1679 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0 decades
  26. 26Michele MazzarinoMichele Mazzarino1605–1648 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures7 decades
  27. 27Alexandre de VendômeAlexandre de Vendôme1598–1629 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  28. 28François de Harlay de ChampvallonFrançois de Harlay de Champvallon1625–1695 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures1 decades
  29. 29Louis de Nogaret de La Valette d'ÉpernonLouis de Nogaret de La Valette d'Épernon1593–1639 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  30. 30François de SourdisFrançois de Sourdis1574–1628 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0 decades
  31. 31Michel Le QuienMichel Le Quien1661–1733 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0 decades
  32. 32Alain de SolminihacAlain de Solminihac1593–1659 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures16 decades
  33. 33Antoine GodeauAntoine Godeau1605–1672 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures22 decades
  34. 34Henri de GondiHenri de Gondi1572–1622 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures20 decades
  35. 35Charles-Gaspard-Guillaume de Vintimille du LucCharles-Gaspard-Guillaume de Vintimille du Luc1655–1746 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  36. 36Piero de BonziPiero de Bonzi1631–1703 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0 decades
  37. 37Henri-Pons de Thiard de BissyHenri-Pons de Thiard de Bissy1657–1737 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  38. 38Charles Maurice Le TellierCharles Maurice Le Tellier1642–1710 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  39. 39Jacques-Nicolas ColbertJacques-Nicolas Colbert1655–1707 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  40. 40Antonietta d'Orléans-LonguevilleAntonietta d'Orléans-Longueville1572–1618 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  41. 41Louis ThomassinLouis Thomassin1619–1695 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  42. 42François de MaillyFrançois de Mailly1658–1721 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures5 decades
  43. 43Étienne GuibourgÉtienne Guibourg1610–1686 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  44. 44Girolamo Grimaldi-CavalleroniGirolamo Grimaldi-Cavalleroni1597–1685 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  45. 45Pierre du Cambout de CoislinPierre du Cambout de Coislin1636–1706 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  46. 46Étienne Le CamusÉtienne Le Camus1632–1707 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  47. 47ADAchille d'Étampes de Valençay1593–1646 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  48. 48Henri de SourdisHenri de Sourdis1593–1645 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  49. 49Humbertus Guilielmus de PrecipianoHumbertus Guilielmus de Precipiano1627–1711 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  50. 50Jean-Baptiste de La Croix de Chevrières de Saint-VallierJean-Baptiste de La Croix de Chevrières de Saint-Vallier1653–1727 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  51. 51François de Clermont-TonnerreFrançois de Clermont-Tonnerre1629–1701 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  52. 52Henri ArnauldHenri Arnauld1597–1692 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  53. 53Jean-Paul BignonJean-Paul Bignon1662–1743 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  54. 54Léon Potier de GesvresLéon Potier de Gesvres1656–1744 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  55. 55Louis NicolasLouis Nicolas1634–1682 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  56. 56Jacques BoileauJacques Boileau1635–1716 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  57. 57JLJérôme Lalemant1593–1673 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  58. 58Denis-Simon de MarquemontDenis-Simon de Marquemont1572–1626 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  59. 59Camille de Neufville de VilleroyCamille de Neufville de Villeroy1606–1693 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  60. 60JQJacques Quétif1618–1698 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  61. 61FLFrançois-Joseph Le Mercier1604–1690 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  62. 62Nicolas PavillonNicolas Pavillon1597–1677 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  63. 63Franciscus van der BurchFranciscus van der Burch1567–1644 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  64. 64Jean-Baptiste Morvan de BellegardeJean-Baptiste Morvan de Bellegarde1648–1734 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  65. 65François FouquetFrançois Fouquet1611–1673 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  66. 66Antoine SinglinAntoine Singlin1607–1664 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  67. 67CBCharles Boileau1648–1704 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  68. 68BDBasile de Glemona1648–1704 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  69. 69JAJacques Adam1663–1735 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  70. 70FPFrançois-Antoine Pomey1618–1673 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—

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.