Mihai Eminescu (born Mihail Eminovici; 15 January 1850 – 15 June 1889) was a renowned Romanian Romantic poet, novelist, and journalist from Moldavia. He is generally regarded as the most famous and influential Romanian poet.

Eminescu was an active member of the Junimea literary society and worked as an editor for the newspaper Timpul ("The Time"), the official newspaper of the Conservative Party (1880–1918). His poetry was first published when he was 16, and he went to Vienna, Austria, to study at the age of 19.

The poet's manuscripts, containing 46 volumes and approximately 14,000 pages, were offered by Titu Maiorescu as a gift to the Romanian Academy during a meeting held on 25 January 1902.

Notable works include Luceafărul (The Vesper/The Evening Star/The Lucifer/The Daystar), Odă în metru antic (Ode in Ancient Meter), and the five Letters (Epistles/Satires). In his poems, he frequently explored metaphysical, mythological, and historical subjects.

His father, Gheorghe Eminovici, was an aristocrat from Bukovina, part of the Austrian Empire at the time, while his grandfather hailed from Banat. His family settled in Ipotești, near the town of Botoșani. Eminescu's mother, Raluca Iurașcu, was an heiress of an old noble family.

In a Junimea register, Eminescu noted his birth date as 22 December 1849; however, official records, including those of the Cernăuți Gymnasium where Eminescu studied, state his birth date as 15 January 1850.