Benedict of Nursia

About Benedict of Nursia

Benedict of Nursia (c. 480 – 543 CE) holds a significant, though perhaps not top-tier, position in global cultural impact, ranked #725 by the Historical Popularity Index (HPI). As a religious figure, his primary historical contribution was the establishment of the Benedictine Order and the creation of the "Rule of Saint Benedict." This monastic code became the fundamental guide for Western monasticism for centuries, profoundly shaping medieval European religious, social, and intellectual life.

In 2025, Benedict garners an estimated 441K annualized Wikipedia views, placing his internet attention in a relatively balanced position when judged against his historical importance, resulting in an Attention Gap of approximately 1x. This suggests that his online presence is roughly commensurate with his historical ranking. For contrast, Thomas the Apostle, ranked slightly higher at #755, receives 678K views, while Catherine of Aragon (#932) draws a substantial 2.0M views, indicating that other religious figures receive far greater modern attention.

Despite this moderate attention, Benedict's online interest is growing, showing a year-over-year view increase of +10.9% and a Q1 vs Q3 momentum increase of +8%, suggesting a slight upward trend in contemporary digital curiosity regarding his legacy.