The famous people of Renaissance

The famous people of Renaissance

Learn about famous and influential people who lived during the European Renaissance

Who were the most famous people during the Renaissance?

The famous people of Renaissance

The Renaissance era saw a large number of influential and well-known individuals. The most well-known are listed below :

Leonardo da Vinci (1452 – 1519)

Leonardo was a sculptor, architect, scientist, and the so-called “real Renaissance Man.” His works of art, like as the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, are among the most well-known in the entire world. read more about : Leonardo da Vinci biography

King Henry VIII (1491-1547)

At his height, King Henry the VIII would have been viewed as the ideal “Renaissance Man.” He was tall, attractive, and self-assured. Henry spoke four languages, was clever and well-educated. He was also a talented musician, composer, good horseman, and combatant. Together with his six different wives, Henry the VIII is renowned for severing the ties between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church.

Martin Luther (1483 – 1546)

Luther was a clergyman and theologian from Germany. Many Catholic Church practices, such as paying to enter paradise and the Pope’s authority, offended him. He believed that everyone should have access to the Bible, which he believed should be the final authority. The Reformation and a new branch of Christianity known as Protestantism were brought about by Luther’s beliefs.

Martin Luther by Lucas Cranach

 

Catherine de Medici (1519 – 1589) 

Catherine came from Florence’s illustrious Medici family. She was kidnapped when she was 11 years old and kept as a prisoner to try to stop her family from attacking. Because of her success in persuading her captors that she intended to become a nun, they spared her harm. She then wed Henry, the French King’s son, a few years later. While Catherine grew in power, Henry ascended to the throne of France. Her sons succeeded Henry as king of France and Poland, and her daughter was crowned queen of Navarre.

Erasmus (1466 – 1536) 

Dutch priest and scholar Erasmus was. He promoted humanism and the Renaissance movement in northern Europe and was regarded as the finest humanist of the north. His work Praise of Folly is likewise well known.

Erasmus by Hans Holbein the Younger

Paracelsus (1493 – 1541) 

Swiss botanist and scholar Paracelsus made significant contributions to the field of medicine. He investigated current medical procedures and discovered that most practitioners tended to exacerbate patients’ illnesses rather than improve them. His research demonstrated that specific substances and medications could aid in the recovery and healing of individuals. He also discovered that a person’s food and surroundings have an impact on their health.

Christopher Columbus (1451 – 1506)

Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus traveled to the Americas in search of the East Indies or Asia. His discovery ushered in a period of European power growth throughout the Americas and the rest of the world.

Other famous people from the Renaissance include:

• Michelangelo :  Artist, architect, and sculptor well known for his Sistine Chapel paintings.
• Johannes Gutenberg : who created the printing press.read more about Gutenberg : Johannes Gutenberg biography
• Joan of Arc : a French military captain who rose from the ranks of a peasant girl. She was 19 years old when she was burnt at the stake for being a heretic. read more about Joan of Arc : Biography of Joan of Arc
  
• Mehmed II : The Ottoman Empire’s ruler. He overthrew the Byzantine Empire by capturing Constantinople.
• Vasco da Gama : explorer who went through Africa and found a sea route from Europe to India.
• Dante Alighieri : author of the Divine Comedy, a significant piece of literature.
• William Shakespeare : playwright regarded as the best English-language author.
• Elizabeth I of England : regarded by many as the greatest king or queen in English history.read more about Elizabeth I : Biography of Queen Elizabeth I
• Galileo : astronomer who produced numerous planet and star discoveries. read more about Galileo : Galileo Galilei biography

  Read also : Artists in Renaissance