Robert Ballard II (c. 1572 or 1575 – after 1650) was a prominent French lutenist and composer. His father, Robert Ballard Senior (c. 1527–1588), was probably born in Paris and headed the renowned music publishing house “Le Roy & Ballard,” which he founded in 1551 with his cousin Adrian Le Roy (a notable lutenist and composer of the time).
From 1612, he entered the service of the French regent Marie de Medici and was tutor to the young King Louis XIII. In 1618, he became a lutenist and composer (“Musicien ordinaire du roi”) at the royal court. He published two books of lute works: Premier Livre de tablature de luth (1611) and Diverses Pièces mises sur le luth (1614).