Who founded the Dominican order?

The story behind the answer

The Order of Preachers (Dominicans) was established in 1216 by the Castilian priest Domingo de Guzmán, with papal approval from Honorius III. Designed to combat heresy—especially the Albigensian movement—the order emphasized itinerant preaching, doctrinal clarity, and a rigorous life of poverty, aligning preaching with learned theology.

Distinct from cloistered monasticism, this mendicant order settled in cities and universities, making study central to its mission. This scholarly focus shaped medieval thought: figures like Thomas Aquinas and Albert the Great were members, and the order built a network of studia across Europe. Their black-and-white habit became iconic, and their role in preaching, teaching, and, at times, inquisitorial work marked them as a major force in the religious and intellectual life of the High Middle Ages.