Francisco Balagtas, also known as Francisco Baltazar, was a prominent Filipino poet and litterateur who lived during the period of Spanish rule in the Philippines. He is widely recognized as one of the most significant literary laureates in Philippine history due to his profound impact on the nation's literature.
Balagtas is best known for his mastery of the Tagalog language. His defining work is the famous epic poem Florante at Laura, which remains a cornerstone of Filipino literary heritage.