Thomas Rowley was an English poet and a fictional character created by the 18th-century writer Thomas Chatterton. Chatterton, who lived from 1752 to 1770, invented Rowley as a medieval poet, claiming that he had discovered a collection of Rowley's works in a Bristol church. These poems were written in a style reminiscent of the Middle English period, which contributed to their initial acceptance and popularity. The Rowley poems, including pieces like "The Battle of Hastings," were later revealed to be forgeries by Chatterton. Despite this, they played a significant role in the Romantic movement, influencing poets such as William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Rowley's legacy continues to spark discussions about authenticity in literature.