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. 1Louis XIV of FranceLouis XIV of France1638–1715 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  2. 2Charles I of EnglandCharles I of England1600–1649 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures12 decades
  3. 3James VI and IJames VI and I1566–1625 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures5 decades
  4. 4Charles II of EnglandCharles II of England1630–1685 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures12 decades
  5. 5Philip IV of SpainPhilip IV of Spain1605–1665 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures20 decades
  6. 6William III of EnglandWilliam III of England1650–1702 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Historical Figures2 decades
  7. 7James II of EnglandJames II of England1633–1701 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures3 decades
  8. 8Alexis of RussiaAlexis of Russia1629–1676 · Historical Figures21 decades
  9. 9Michael of RussiaMichael of Russia1596–1645 · Historical Figures19 decades
  10. 10Ivan V of RussiaIvan V of Russia1666–1696 · Historical Figures3 decades
  11. 11Prince Eugene of SavoyPrince Eugene of Savoy1663–1736 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  12. 12Leopold I, Holy Roman EmperorLeopold I, Holy Roman Emperor1640–1705 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  13. 13John III SobieskiJohn III Sobieski1629–1696 · Historical Figures10 decades
  14. 14Shah JahanShah Jahan1592–1666 · Historical Figures16 decades
  15. 15Mary II of EnglandMary II of England1662–1694 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures0 decades
  16. 16False Dmitry IFalse Dmitry I1600–1606 · Historical Figures10 decades
  17. 17Ferdinand II, Holy Roman EmperorFerdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor1578–1637 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures22 decades
  18. 18Christina, Queen of SwedenChristina, Queen of Sweden1626–1689 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  19. 19Samuel de ChamplainSamuel de Champlain1567–1635 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures17 decades
  20. 20AurangzebAurangzeb1618–1707 · 🇮🇳 India · Historical Figures20 decades
  21. 21Ferdinand III, Holy Roman EmperorFerdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor1608–1657 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures22 decades
  22. 22Maria Theresa of SpainMaria Theresa of Spain1638–1683 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures22 decades
  23. 23Abel TasmanAbel Tasman1603–1659 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Historical Figures8 decades
  24. 24Frederick William, Elector of BrandenburgFrederick William, Elector of Brandenburg1620–1688 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  25. 25Kösem SultanKösem Sultan1589–1651 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Historical Figures0 decades
  26. 26Ibrahim of the Ottoman EmpireIbrahim of the Ottoman Empire1615–1648 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  27. 27Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of BohemiaElizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia1596–1662 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  28. 28ShivajiShivaji1627–1680 · 🇮🇳 India · Historical Figures14 decades
  29. 29Man in the Iron MaskMan in the Iron Mask1640–1703 · Historical Figures22 decades
  30. 30Frederick V of the PalatinateFrederick V of the Palatinate1596–1632 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  31. 31Feodor III of RussiaFeodor III of Russia1661–1682 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  32. 32JahangirJahangir1569–1627 · 🇮🇳 India · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  33. 33Sigismund III VasaSigismund III Vasa1566–1632 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Historical Figures0 decades
  34. 34Henry HudsonHenry Hudsonborn 1565 · Historical Figures22 decades
  35. 35Anne of DenmarkAnne of Denmark1574–1619 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures6 decades
  36. 36Ismail Ibn SharifIsmail Ibn Sharif1645–1727 · Historical Figures0 decades
  37. 37Maximilian I, Elector of BavariaMaximilian I, Elector of Bavaria1573–1651 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  38. 38Gaston, Duke of OrléansGaston, Duke of Orléans1608–1660 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures17 decades
  39. 39John SmithJohn Smith1580–1631 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures22 decades
  40. 40Abbas the GreatAbbas the Great1571–1629 · Historical Figures13 decades
  41. 41Charles X Gustav of SwedenCharles X Gustav of Sweden1622–1660 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Historical Figures19 decades
  42. 42William DampierWilliam Dampier1651–1715 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures20 decades
  43. 43Catherine of BraganzaCatherine of Braganza1638–1705 · 🇵🇹 Portugal · Historical Figures21 decades
  44. 44René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La SalleRené-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle1643–1687 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  45. 45Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Viscount of TurenneHenri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Viscount of Turenne1611–1675 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  46. 46Władysław IV VasaWładysław IV Vasa1595–1648 · Historical Figures0 decades
  47. 47John II Casimir VasaJohn II Casimir Vasa1609–1672 · Historical Figures0 decades
  48. 48William II, Prince of OrangeWilliam II, Prince of Orange1626–1650 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Historical Figures22 decades
  49. 49Charles XI of SwedenCharles XI of Sweden1655–1697 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Historical Figures0 decades
  50. 50Mary Henrietta, Princess RoyalMary Henrietta, Princess Royal1631–1660 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  51. 51Maria Anna Victoria of BavariaMaria Anna Victoria of Bavaria1660–1690 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  52. 52John IV of PortugalJohn IV of Portugal1604–1656 · 🇵🇹 Portugal · Historical Figures0 decades
  53. 53Christian V of DenmarkChristian V of Denmark1646–1699 · 🇳🇴 Norway · Historical Figures0 decades
  54. 54Mary of ModenaMary of Modena1658–1718 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures21 decades
  55. 55Maria Antonia of AustriaMaria Antonia of Austria1669–1692 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures0 decades
  56. 56Ernest Augustus, Elector of Brunswick-LüneburgErnest Augustus, Elector of Brunswick-Lüneburg1629–1698 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  57. 57Victor Amadeus I of SavoyVictor Amadeus I of Savoy1587–1637 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures7 decades
  58. 58CEChongzhen Emperor1611–1644 · 🇨🇳 China · Historical Figures0 decades
  59. 59Ahmed IIAhmed II1643–1695 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Historical Figures0 decades
  60. 60Ferdinand IV, King of the RomansFerdinand IV, King of the Romans1633–1654 · Historical Figures21 decades
  61. 61Charles V, Duke of LorraineCharles V, Duke of Lorraine1643–1690 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures2 decades
  62. 62Peter II of PortugalPeter II of Portugal1648–1706 · 🇵🇹 Portugal · Historical Figures0 decades
  63. 63Shunzhi EmperorShunzhi Emperor1638–1661 · 🇨🇳 China · Historical Figures0 decades
  64. 64Anne, Duchess of YorkAnne, Duchess of York1637–1671 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures0 decades
  65. 65George William, Elector of BrandenburgGeorge William, Elector of Brandenburg1595–1640 · Historical Figures22 decades
  66. 66John Sigismund, Elector of BrandenburgJohn Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg1572–1619 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  67. 67Hasekura TsunenagaHasekura Tsunenaga1571–1622 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figures0 decades
  68. 68Maria Eleonora of BrandenburgMaria Eleonora of Brandenburg1599–1655 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Historical Figures0 decades
  69. 69Afonso VI of PortugalAfonso VI of Portugal1643–1683 · Historical Figures0 decades
  70. 70Eleonore of AustriaEleonore of Austria1653–1697 · Historical Figures2 decades
  71. 71Antoine de la Mothe CadillacAntoine de la Mothe Cadillac1658–1730 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  72. 72JRJacob Roggeveen1659–1729 · Historical Figures0 decades
  73. 73Christina of LorraineChristina of Lorraine1565–1637 · Historical Figures21 decades
  74. 74Claudia Felicitas of AustriaClaudia Felicitas of Austria1653–1676 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  75. 75Pedro Fernandes de QueirósPedro Fernandes de Queirós1565–1614 · Historical Figures14 decades
  76. 76William BaffinWilliam Baffin1584–1622 · Historical Figures5 decades
  77. 77Jacques MarquetteJacques Marquette1637–1675 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures9 decades
  78. 78WJWillem Janszoon1570–1630 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Historical Figures0 decades
  79. 79Semyon DezhnyovSemyon Dezhnyov1605–1673 · Historical Figures0 decades
  80. 80Princess Henriette Adelaide of SavoyPrincess Henriette Adelaide of Savoy1636–1676 · Historical Figures0 decades
  81. 81Michał Korybut WiśniowieckiMichał Korybut Wiśniowiecki1640–1673 · Historical Figures19 decades
  82. 82Emperor ReigenEmperor Reigen1654–1732 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figures0 decades
  83. 83VAVladimir Atlasov1661–1711 · Historical Figures8 decades
  84. 84Christian Albert I of Schleswig-Holstein-GottorpChristian Albert I of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp1641–1694 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  85. 85AntonioAntonio1592–1650 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures19 decades
  86. 86Go-YōzeiGo-Yōzei1571–1617 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figures0 decades
  87. 87Bahadur Shah IBahadur Shah I1643–1712 · 🇮🇳 India · Historical Figures0 decades
  88. 88Willem SchoutenWillem Schouten1577–1625 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Historical Figures0 decades
  89. 89Marie Angélique de Scorailles, Duchess of FontangesMarie Angélique de Scorailles, Duchess of Fontanges1661–1681 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  90. 90Karl I, Prince of LiechtensteinKarl I, Prince of Liechtenstein1569–1627 · Historical Figures22 decades
  91. 91LVLuís Vaz de Torresborn 1565 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures2 decades
  92. 92Marie de Bourbon, Duchess of MontpensierMarie de Bourbon, Duchess of Montpensier1605–1627 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  93. 93Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-GothaErnest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha1601–1675 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  94. 94NaraiNarai1632–1688 · Historical Figures10 decades
  95. 95Louise de Keroual, Duchess of PortsmouthLouise de Keroual, Duchess of Portsmouth1649–1734 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  96. 96Empress MeishōEmpress Meishō1624–1696 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  97. 97Frederick III, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-GottorpFrederick III, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp1597–1659 · Historical Figures22 decades
  98. 98HSHalime Sultan1576–1623 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  99. 99Pietro Della VallePietro Della Valle1586–1652 · Historical Figures18 decades
  100. 100Louis JollietLouis Jolliet1645–1700 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Historical Figures15 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.