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. 1Charles II of SpainCharles II of Spain1661–1700 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Models18 decades
  2. 2Philip III of SpainPhilip III of Spain1578–1621 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Models19 decades
  3. 3Mehmed IIIMehmed III1566–1603 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Models0 decades
  4. 4Mehmed IVMehmed IV1642–1693 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Models2 decades
  5. 5Mustafa IMustafa I1591–1639 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Models0 decades
  6. 6Suleiman IISuleiman II1642–1691 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Models0 decades
  7. 7Mustafa IIMustafa II1664–1703 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Models0 decades
  8. 8John George III of SaxonyJohn George III of Saxony1647–1691 · Models22 decades
  9. 9Abbas II of PersiaAbbas II of Persia1633–1666 · Models0 decades
  10. 10Charles II, Elector PalatineCharles II, Elector Palatine1651–1685 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models22 decades
  11. 11Go-KōmyōGo-Kōmyō1633–1654 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Modelsnot measured—
  12. 12Louis V, Landgrave of Hesse-DarmstadtLouis V, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt1577–1626 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models22 decades
  13. 13Taichang EmperorTaichang Emperor1582–1620 · 🇨🇳 China · Modelsnot measured—
  14. 14Frederick VII, Margrave of Baden-DurlachFrederick VII, Margrave of Baden-Durlach1647–1709 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models0 decades
  15. 15George II RákócziGeorge II Rákóczi1621–1660 · Models0 decades
  16. 16John Adolphus, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-GottorpJohn Adolphus, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp1575–1616 · Models8 decades
  17. 17Infante Carlos of SpainInfante Carlos of Spain1607–1632 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Modelsnot measured—
  18. 18John Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-AnsbachJohn Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach1654–1686 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models22 decades
  19. 19George Frederick of Waldeck-EisenbergGeorge Frederick of Waldeck-Eisenberg1620–1692 · Models22 decades
  20. 20Frederick Casimir KettlerFrederick Casimir Kettler1650–1698 · Modelsnot measured—
  21. 21Bogislaw XIV, Duke of PomeraniaBogislaw XIV, Duke of Pomerania1580–1637 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models4 decades
  22. 22Radu MihneaRadu Mihnea1586–1626 · Models0 decades
  23. 23Helena FourmentHelena Fourment1614–1673 · Models0 decades
  24. 24George DucasGeorge Ducas1620–1685 · Models0 decades
  25. 25Christina Magdalena of the Palatinate-ZweibrückenChristina Magdalena of the Palatinate-Zweibrücken1616–1662 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Modelsnot measured—
  26. 26Countess Amalie Elisabeth of Hanau-MünzenbergCountess Amalie Elisabeth of Hanau-Münzenberg1602–1651 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Modelsnot measured—
  27. 27Julius Francis, Duke of Saxe-LauenburgJulius Francis, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg1641–1689 · Models21 decades
  28. 28William VII, Landgrave of Hesse-KasselWilliam VII, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel1651–1670 · Models4 decades
  29. 29Edward FortunatusEdward Fortunatus1565–1600 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models6 decades
  30. 30Christian, Margrave of Brandenburg-BayreuthChristian, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth1581–1655 · Modelsnot measured—
  31. 31Anthony Günther, Count of OldenburgAnthony Günther, Count of Oldenburg1583–1667 · Models0 decades
  32. 32John Albert II, Duke of MecklenburgJohn Albert II, Duke of Mecklenburg1590–1636 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models3 decades
  33. 33Frederick V, Margrave of Baden-DurlachFrederick V, Margrave of Baden-Durlach1594–1659 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models22 decades
  34. 34Margravine Dorothea Charlotte of Brandenburg-AnsbachMargravine Dorothea Charlotte of Brandenburg-Ansbach1661–1705 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Modelsnot measured—
  35. 35Princess Louise of SavoyPrincess Louise of Savoy1627–1689 · 🇫🇷 France · Modelsnot measured—
  36. 36Marie of Prussia, Margravine of Brandenburg-BayreuthMarie of Prussia, Margravine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth1579–1649 · Models0 decades
  37. 37Sofie Luise of Württemberg-WinnentalSofie Luise of Württemberg-Winnental1642–1702 · Modelsnot measured—
  38. 38Mihnea TurcitulMihnea Turcitul1565–1601 · Models0 decades
  39. 39Joachim Ernst, Margrave of Brandenburg-AnsbachJoachim Ernst, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach1583–1625 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models22 decades
  40. 40Countess Palatine Eleonora Catherine of ZweibrückenCountess Palatine Eleonora Catherine of Zweibrücken1626–1692 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Modelsnot measured—
  41. 41John George of BrandenburgJohn George of Brandenburg1577–1624 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Modelsnot measured—
  42. 42George GhicaGeorge Ghica1600–1664 · Modelsnot measured—
  43. 43Constantin ȘerbanConstantin Șerban1621–1685 · Modelsnot measured—
  44. 44CHChristian Henry, Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach1661–1708 · Models8 decades
  45. 45Mihnea IIIMihnea III1613–1660 · Models0 decades
  46. 46Christine of Baden-DurlachChristine of Baden-Durlach1645–1705 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Modelsnot measured—
  47. 47Fillide MelandroniFillide Melandroni1581–1618 · Models0 decades
  48. 48Grigore I GhicaGrigore I Ghica1628–1674 · Modelsnot measured—
  49. 49Georg Albrecht, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth-KulmbachGeorg Albrecht, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth-Kulmbach1619–1666 · Modelsnot measured—
  50. 50Erdmann August of Brandenburg-BayreuthErdmann August of Brandenburg-Bayreuth1615–1651 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Modelsnot measured—
  51. 51CAChristian Albert, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach1675–1692 · Models0 decades
  52. 52FIFrederick III, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach1616–1634 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models22 decades
  53. 53Philip Dietrich, Count of WaldeckPhilip Dietrich, Count of Waldeck1614–1645 · Models1 decades
  54. 54Augustus, Duke of Saxe-LauenburgAugustus, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg1577–1656 · Modelsnot measured—
  55. 55Mihai RacovițăMihai Racoviță1660–1744 · Modelsnot measured—
  56. 56Philip III, Margrave of Baden-RodemachernPhilip III, Margrave of Baden-Rodemachern1567–1620 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models22 decades
  57. 57FEFrancis Erdmann, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg1629–1666 · Models0 decades
  58. 58Christian, Count of Waldeck-WildungenChristian, Count of Waldeck-Wildungen1585–1637 · Modelsnot measured—
  59. 59Geertje DircxGeertje Dircx1610–1656 · Modelsnot measured—
  60. 60Francisco de la CuestaFrancisco de la Cuesta1661–1724 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Modelsnot measured—
  61. 61Frederick IX, Margrave of BrandenburgFrederick IX, Margrave of Brandenburg1588–1611 · Models22 decades
  62. 62Barbara of WürttembergBarbara of Württemberg1593–1627 · Modelsnot measured—
  63. 63MMMaria Magdalena of Oettingen-Baldern1619–1688 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Modelsnot measured—
  64. 64Otto, Landgrave of Hesse-KasselOtto, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel1594–1617 · Modelsnot measured—
  65. 65CUCatherine Ursula of Hohenzollern-Hechingen1610–1640 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Modelsnot measured—
  66. 66George Albert II, Margrave of BrandenburgGeorge Albert II, Margrave of Brandenburg1591–1615 · Modelsnot measured—
  67. 67Antonie Vodă din PopeștiAntonie Vodă din Popeștidied 1672 · Modelsnot measured—
  68. 68Eleonore Klara von Hohenlohe-NeuensteinEleonore Klara von Hohenlohe-Neuenstein1632–1709 · Modelsnot measured—
  69. 69Maria Vittoria GonzagaMaria Vittoria Gonzaga1659–1707 · Modelsnot measured—
  70. 70Archduke Leopold Joseph of AustriaArchduke Leopold Joseph of Austria1682–1684 · Modelsnot measured—
  71. 71SFSusanna Fourment1599–1628 · Modelsnot measured—
  72. 72Marie Jonas de la MotteMarie Jonas de la Motte1627–1683 · Modelsnot measured—
  73. 73AOAugust of Brandenburg1580–1601 · Modelsnot measured—
  74. 74JPJohn Philip II, Wild- and Rhinegrave of Salm-Dhaun1645–1693 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Modelsnot measured—
  75. 75Sophie Margarete of Oettingen-OettingenSophie Margarete of Oettingen-Oettingen1634–1664 · Modelsnot measured—
  76. 76Anna Sophia of Brunswick-WolfenbüttelAnna Sophia of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel1659–1742 · Modelsnot measured—
  77. 77Eva Christina of WürttembergEva Christina of Württemberg1590–1657 · Modelsnot 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.