Ramón Menéndez Pidal (La Coruña, 1869 - Madrid, 1968) was a Spanish philologist, historian, and medievalist. Considered the preeminent figure in Spanish philology, he dedicated his life to the study of the language, literature, and history of Spain, standing out for his works on the Romancero, the Poema de Mio Cid, and the origins of Spanish. He was director of the Royal Spanish Academy and founder of the Center for Historical Studies.