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. 3Pope Urban VIIIPope Urban VIII1568–1644 · Religious Figures22 decades
  4. 4Pope Benedict XIIIPope Benedict XIII1649–1730 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures20 decades
  5. 5Rose of LimaRose of Lima1586–1617 · Religious Figures22 decades
  6. 6Francis de SalesFrancis de Sales1567–1622 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures22 decades
  7. 7Pope Clement XIPope Clement XI1649–1721 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  8. 8Pope Alexander VIIPope Alexander VII1599–1667 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  9. 9Pope Innocent XIPope Innocent XI1611–1689 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  10. 10François FénelonFrançois Fénelon1651–1715 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures22 decades
  11. 11Vincent de PaulVincent de Paul1581–1660 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures22 decades
  12. 12Pope Clement IXPope Clement IX1600–1669 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures20 decades
  13. 13Jacques-Bénigne BossuetJacques-Bénigne Bossuet1627–1704 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures22 decades
  14. 14Patriarch Nikon of MoscowPatriarch Nikon of Moscow1605–1681 · Religious Figures22 decades
  15. 15Pope Innocent XPope Innocent X1574–1655 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures3 decades
  16. 16AvvakumAvvakum1620–1682 · Religious Figures5 decades
  17. 17Pope Clement XIIPope Clement XII1652–1740 · Religious Figures2 decades
  18. 18Sabbatai ZeviSabbatai Zevi1626–1676 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Religious Figures20 decades
  19. 19Pope Innocent XIIIPope Innocent XIII1655–1724 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0 decades
  20. 20Margaret Mary AlacoqueMargaret Mary Alacoque1647–1690 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures18 decades
  21. 21Pope Innocent XIIPope Innocent XII1615–1700 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures8 decades
  22. 22Pope Clement XPope Clement X1590–1676 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0 decades
  23. 23Pope Alexander VIIIPope Alexander VIII1610–1691 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0 decades
  24. 24Jean-Baptiste de La SalleJean-Baptiste de La Salle1651–1719 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  25. 25Jean François Paul de GondiJean François Paul de Gondi1613–1679 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  26. 26Jean MeslierJean Meslier1664–1729 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures22 decades
  27. 27Nicolas StenoNicolas Steno1638–1686 · Religious Figures2 decades
  28. 28André-Hercule de FleuryAndré-Hercule de Fleury1653–1743 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0 decades
  29. 29Cornelius JansenCornelius Jansen1585–1638 · Religious Figures12 decades
  30. 30Jean EudesJean Eudes1601–1680 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures19 decades
  31. 31Henri, Prince of CondéHenri, Prince of Condé1588–1646 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  32. 32James UssherJames Ussher1581–1656 · Religious Figures10 decades
  33. 33Urbain GrandierUrbain Grandier1590–1634 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures22 decades
  34. 34Ferdinand VerbiestFerdinand Verbiest1623–1688 · Religious Figures4 decades
  35. 35Josaphat KuntsevychJosaphat Kuntsevych1580–1623 · Religious Figures0 decades
  36. 36Fidelis of SigmaringenFidelis of Sigmaringen1577–1622 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures7 decades
  37. 37Andrzej BobolaAndrzej Bobola1591–1657 · Religious Figures0 decades
  38. 38Oliver PlunkettOliver Plunkett1629–1681 · Religious Figures1 decades
  39. 39Titus OatesTitus Oates1649–1705 · Religious Figures22 decades
  40. 40Stanisław PapczyńskiStanisław Papczyński1631–1701 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  41. 41Joseph VazJoseph Vaz1651–1711 · 🇮🇳 India · Religious Figures1 decades
  42. 42François de LavalFrançois de Laval1623–1708 · Religious Figures21 decades
  43. 43Claude de la ColombièreClaude de la Colombière1641–1682 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures1 decades
  44. 44Juan de Palafox y MendozaJuan de Palafox y Mendoza1600–1659 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures22 decades
  45. 45Ferdinando Gonzaga, Duke of MantuaFerdinando Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua1587–1626 · Religious Figures0 decades
  46. 46John OgilvieJohn Ogilvie1579–1615 · Religious Figures19 decades
  47. 47Christoph Bernhard von GalenChristoph Bernhard von Galen1606–1678 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Religious Figures14 decades
  48. 48Vincenzo II Gonzaga, Duke of MantuaVincenzo II Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua1594–1627 · Religious Figures0 decades
  49. 49John Albert VasaJohn Albert Vasa1612–1634 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  50. 50Sigismund Francis, Archduke of AustriaSigismund Francis, Archduke of Austria1630–1665 · Religious Figures5 decades
  51. 51Roque González de Santa CruzRoque González de Santa Cruz1576–1628 · Religious Figures11 decades
  52. 52Louis, Duke of VendômeLouis, Duke of Vendôme1612–1669 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  53. 53Leopoldo de' MediciLeopoldo de' Medici1617–1675 · Religious Figures22 decades
  54. 54Maximilian Henry of BavariaMaximilian Henry of Bavaria1621–1688 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures2 decades
  55. 55Francesco BarberiniFrancesco Barberini1597–1679 · Religious Figures22 decades
  56. 56Cornelius a LapideCornelius a Lapide1567–1637 · Religious Figures10 decades
  57. 57Bernardino SpadaBernardino Spada1594–1661 · Religious Figures20 decades
  58. 58Karol Ferdynand VasaKarol Ferdynand Vasa1613–1655 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  59. 59John SarkanderJohn Sarkander1576–1620 · Religious Figures0 decades
  60. 60Francesco Maria de' Medici, Duke of Rovere and MontefeltroFrancesco Maria de' Medici, Duke of Rovere and Montefeltro1660–1711 · Religious Figures0 decades
  61. 61Antonio BarberiniAntonio Barberini1607–1671 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures22 decades
  62. 62Charles of Austria, Bishop of WroclawCharles of Austria, Bishop of Wroclaw1590–1624 · Religious Figures15 decades
  63. 63Louis Antoine de NoaillesLouis Antoine de Noailles1651–1729 · Religious Figures0 decades
  64. 64Ferdinand of BavariaFerdinand of Bavaria1577–1650 · Religious Figures17 decades
  65. 65Zaya PanditaZaya Pandita1599–1662 · Religious Figures0 decades
  66. 66Count Palatine Francis Louis of NeuburgCount Palatine Francis Louis of Neuburg1664–1732 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  67. 67António de AndradeAntónio de Andrade1580–1634 · Religious Figures0 decades
  68. 68Diego Luis de San VitoresDiego Luis de San Vitores1627–1672 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures0 decades
  69. 69Johann Philipp von SchönbornJohann Philipp von Schönborn1605–1673 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures20 decades
  70. 70Lothair Francis of SchönbornLothair Francis of Schönborn1655–1729 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures13 decades
  71. 71William SancroftWilliam Sancroft1617–1693 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Religious Figures7 decades
  72. 72Decio AzzolinoDecio Azzolino1623–1689 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  73. 73Bernard of CorleoneBernard of Corleone1605–1667 · Religious Figures9 decades
  74. 74Christian William of BrandenburgChristian William of Brandenburg1587–1665 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures12 decades
  75. 75JSJohn Southworth1592–1654 · Religious Figures3 decades
  76. 76Francis Ferdinand de CapillasFrancis Ferdinand de Capillas1607–1648 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures0 decades
  77. 77Christian, Duke of Brunswick-LüneburgChristian, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1566–1633 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  78. 78Paris von LodronParis von Lodron1586–1653 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Religious Figures5 decades
  79. 79William JuxonWilliam Juxon1582–1663 · Religious Figures8 decades
  80. 80Marko KrizinMarko Krizin1589–1619 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  81. 81Antonio Marcello BarberiniAntonio Marcello Barberini1569–1646 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  82. 82Antonio de' MediciAntonio de' Medici1576–1621 · Religious Figures0 decades
  83. 83Paluzzo Paluzzi Altieri degli AlbertoniPaluzzo Paluzzi Altieri degli Albertoni1623–1698 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  84. 84Camillo Francesco Maria Pamphili, 1st Prince of San Martino al Cimino and ValmontoneCamillo Francesco Maria Pamphili, 1st Prince of San Martino al Cimino and Valmontone1622–1666 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  85. 85Michael de SanctisMichael de Sanctis1591–1625 · Religious Figures22 decades
  86. 86Gian Carlo de' MediciGian Carlo de' Medici1611–1663 · Religious Figures6 decades
  87. 87Louis-Isaac Lemaistre de SacyLouis-Isaac Lemaistre de Sacy1613–1684 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  88. 88Ulderico CarpegnaUlderico Carpegna1595–1679 · Religious Figures0 decades
  89. 89Philippe CoupletPhilippe Couplet1623–1693 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0 decades
  90. 90Ambrose BarlowAmbrose Barlow1585–1641 · Religious Figures0 decades
  91. 91Luigi CaetaniLuigi Caetani1595–1642 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  92. 92Esmé Stewart, 3rd Duke of LennoxEsmé Stewart, 3rd Duke of Lennox1579–1624 · Religious Figures0 decades
  93. 93Carlo Camillo II MassimoCarlo Camillo II Massimo1620–1677 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  94. 94POPaul of Aleppo1627–1669 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Religious Figures1 decades
  95. 95Alphonse-Louis du Plessis de RichelieuAlphonse-Louis du Plessis de Richelieu1582–1653 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  96. 96Louis Anton of Pfalz-NeuburgLouis Anton of Pfalz-Neuburg1660–1694 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  97. 97Louis III of Lorraine, cardinal of GuiseLouis III of Lorraine, cardinal of Guise1575–1621 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures22 decades
  98. 98Frederick of Hesse-DarmstadtFrederick of Hesse-Darmstadt1616–1682 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures0 decades
  99. 99Nicolas BarréNicolas Barré1621–1686 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures9 decades
  100. 100Noël ChabanelNoël Chabanel1613–1649 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures4 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.