Famous People Born in 1500

Discover the most famous people born in 1500. The list includes people like Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, Hernando de Soto, Reginald Pole, Tansen, Benvenuto Cellini and many more. This list of celebrities is loosely sorted by popularity. People featured on this list, include spiritual & religious leaders, political leaders, artists and sculptors born in 1500. This list includes people from England, Spain, Italy and many more countries.

Vote for Your Favourite Person

Right IconThis ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.

Birthdate: 24th February

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Ghent

Died: September 21, 1558

Charles V served as the Holy Roman Emperor, King of Italy, and King of Germany from 1519 to 1556. From 1516 to 1556, he ruled as the King of Spain. His personal union of the American and European territories was the first collection of kingdoms that were described the empire on which the Sun never sets.

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: Province of Badajoz, Spain

Died: May 21, 1542

Hernando de Soto was a Spanish conquistador and explorer best remembered for his expeditions in the Yucatan Peninsula and Nicaragua. The first documented European to have crossed the Mississippi River, Hernando de Soto is also remembered for guiding the first European expedition into the territory of the present-day USA. He also played a key role in the Conquest of Peru.

 3 

Benvenuto Cellini

(Italian Goldsmith and Sculptor Best Known for His Sculpture 'Cellini Salt Cellar')

Birthdate: 3rd November

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Florence, Italy

Died: February 13, 1571

Benvenuto Cellini was a 16th-century Italian goldsmith, sculptor, draftsman, and artist. The multifaceted artist wrote poetry and a famous autobiography as well. An important figure in Mannerism, he is known for creating pieces, such as the Cellini Salt Cellar and Perseus with the Head of Medusa. He was a member of the prestigious Accademia delle Arti del Disegno of Florence. 

Recommended Lists:

 4 

Tansen

(Prominent Figure of Hindustani Classical Music)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: Gwalior, India

Died: April 26, 1589

Gwalior-born composer Tansen, also known as Ramtanu Pandey, was an iconic figure of Hindustani classical music. Best known for his dhrupad and raga compositions, he was one of the navratnas, or nine gems, of Mughal emperor Akbar’s court. He also invented a stringed instrument named the rabab.

Recommended Lists:

 5 

Robert Aske

(Lawyer)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Died: July 12, 1537

 6 

Ruy López de Villalobos

(Explorer Who Sailed the Pacific From Mexico to Establish a Permanent Foothold for Spain)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: Málaga, Spain

Died: April 4, 1544

 7 

Nicholas Ridley

(English Bishop Who Was Burned at the Stake for His Teachings and Support to Lady Jane Grey)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: South Tynedale, England

Died: October 16, 1555

English Protestant martyr and bishop Nicholas Ridley had an illustrious career as a scholar at Cambridge. Named a master of Pembroke Hall, he converted Cambridge into a Reformist seminary for Protestantism. He ended up being accused of heresy and was burned at the stake at Oxford, thus becoming one of the Oxford Martyrs.

 8 

Reginald Pole

(Archbishop of Canterbury)

Birthdate: 3rd March

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Stourton Castle, England

Died: November 17, 1558

Roman Catholic cardinal Reginald Pole had been the archbishop of Canterbury. Half of his education expenses was covered by fellowships from King Henry VII. A prominent member of the government under Mary Tudor, he re-established many monasteries and also let the burnings of Protestants continue.

 9 

Hans Kohlhase

(Merchant)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: Müncheberg, Germany

Died: March 22, 1540

 10 

Sebald Beham

(Painter)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: Nuremberg, Germany

Died: November 22, 1550

 11 

Edward Seymour, 1st duke of Somerset

(Government Official)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: England

Died: January 22, 1552

 12 

Cristóbal de Morales

(Composer)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: Sevilla, Spain

Died: October 7, 1553

 13 

Abd al-Samad

(Painter)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: Shiraz, Iran

Died: 1593 AD

 14 

Diane de Poitiers

(Courtier)

Birthdate: 9th January

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Saint-Vallier, France

Died: April 25, 1566

 15 

Corneille de Lyon

(Painter)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: The Hague, Netherlands

Died: November 8, 1575

 16 

Luis de Milán

(Composer)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: Spain

Died: 1561 AD

Luis de Milán was the first to publish music on the vihuela, which is a Spanish version of the lute. His best-known work remains El Maestro, which was the first in a series of books on the vihuela. Some of his works were also dedicated to King John III of Portugal.

 17 

Jean-François Roberval

(French Officer and Adventurer Who Led the First French Colonial Attempt During the 16th Century)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: Carcassonne, France

Died: 1560 AD

Jean-François Roberval was a French officer and adventurer. Jean-François, who started his career as a soldier, went on to be appointed by Francis I as viceroy of Canada. Jean-François Roberval is best remembered for leading the first French colonial attempt during the 16th century in the Saint Laurent valley. 

 18 

Bartolomeo Scappi

(Italian Renaissance Chef)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: Dumenza, Italy

Died: April 13, 1577

 19 

Jan Matthys

(Charismatic Anabaptist Leader of the Münster Rebellion)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: Haarlem, Netherlands

Died: April 5, 1534

Initially a baker in Harlem, Jan Matthys later rose up to become a prominent leader of the Münster Rebellion. As an Anabaptist leader, he met opposition to conversion with strict resistance. His war against Franz von Waldeck resulted in him being killed and his head stuck on a pike.

 20 

Jean Cousin the Elder

(Painter)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: Sens, France

Died: 1593 AD

 21 

Martim Afonso de Sousa

(Former Governor of Portuguese India)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: Vila Viçosa, Portugal

Died: July 21, 1564

Martim Afonso de Sousa was a Portuguese colonial administrator and explorer. He played a major role in the Portuguese acquisition of Diu, India, in 1535. He also served as the governor of the Portuguese State of India from 1542 to 1545. 

 22 

Ixtlilxochitl II

(King)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: Mexico

Died: 1550 AD

 23 

Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón

(Architect)

Birthdate: 23rd February

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Rascafría, Spain

Died: May 31, 1577

 24 

Johannes Stumpf

(Theologian)

Birthdate: 23rd April

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Bruchsal, Germany

Died: 1578 AD

 25 

Domenico Campagnola

(Painter)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: Venice, Italy

Died: October 10, 1564

 26 

Richard Cox

(Clergyman)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: Whaddon, Buckinghamshire, England

Died: July 22, 1581

Richard Cox had been the bishop of Ely and a major figure of the Protestant Reformation in England. During his tenure as the Oxford chancellor, he made attempts to remove all traces of Roman Catholic texts from the university. He had apparently also been imprisoned under Queen Mary I’s rule.

 27 

Solomon Molcho

(Jewish mystic)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: Portugal

Died: December 13, 1532

 28 

Ludwig Haetzer

(Swiss Anabaptist)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: Bischofszell, Switzerland

Died: February 4, 1529

 29 

Jean Mone

(Sculptor)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: Metz, France

Died: 1548 AD

 30 

Wu Cheng'en

(Chinese Poet, Novelist, and Politician)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: Huai'an, Jiangsu, Ming China

Died: 1582 AD

Wu Cheng'en was a Chinese poet, novelist, and politician who was active during the Ming Dynasty. He is often credited with authoring a Classic Chinese Novel titled Journey to the West. Wu Cheng'en's possible composition of the famous novel is his main claim to fame, although he also wrote numerous stories and poems, most of which have been lost. 

 31 

Gaspar de Carvajal

(Missionary, Explorers)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: Trujillo, Spain

Died: 1584 AD

 32 

Daulat

(Indian painter)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: UNKNOWN

Died: 1699 AD

Mughal painter Daulat was a prominent artist during the reigns of Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan. A great portrait artist, he illustrated major texts such as the Akbar-nāmeh and Bābur-nāmeh. He also excelled in gold illumination and miniatures. His father and brother were also painters.

 33 

Edmund Bonner

(Bishop)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: Hanley, England

Died: September 5, 1569

Edmund Bonner served as the Bishop of London. Dubbed Bloody Bonner, Edmund played an important role in the oppression of heretics under the government of Mary I of England. Under the leadership of Elizabeth I, who succeeded Mary I of England, Edmund Bonner was sent to the Marshalsea prison where he breathed his last in 1569.

 34 

Bonaventure des Périers

(Author)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: Arnay-le-Duc, France

Died: 1544 AD

 35 

Giovanni Animuccia

(Composer)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: Florence, Italy

Died: March 20, 1571

 36 

Louise Borgia, Duchess of Valentinois

(Noblewoman)

Birthdate: 17th May

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: France

Died: 1553 AD

 37 

Ami Perrin

(Religious leader)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: Geneva, Switzerland

Died: 1561 AD

 38 

Alice Nutter

(Accused as a Pendle witch)

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: Roughlee, England

Died: August 20, 1612

 39 

João de Castro

(4th Governor and Viceroy of Portuguese India)

Birthdate: 27th February

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Lisbon, Portugal

Died: June 6, 1548

Portuguese naval officer João de Castro not only served as the viceroy of Portuguese India but also contributed to the science of navigation immensely, with three pilot books. He also later discovered that the ship’s compass needle deviates due to the magnetism of iron objects.

 40 

Joachim Camerarius

(Scholar)

Birthdate: 12th April

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Bamberg, Germany

Died: April 17, 1574

 41 

Ivan Semenovich Peresvetov

(Social critic)

Birthdate: 30th November

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Lithuania

Died: November 30, 1599