The Dominican Order, (its formal name, Ordo praedicatorum or the Order of Preachers, is less common in English; a member is referred as a blackfriar) founded by Saint Dominic in the early 13th century, is one of the great orders of mendicant friars that revolutionized religious life in Europe during the high middle ages.

Like his contemporary Francis of Assisi, Dominic saw the need for a new type of organization to address the needs of his time, and the quick growth of the Dominicans and Franciscans during their first century confirms that the orders of mendicant friars met a felt need.

Dominic sought to establish a new kind of order, one that would bring the dedication and systematic education of the older monastic orders like the Benedictines to bear on the religious problems of the burgeoning population of cities, but with more organizational flexibility than either monastic orders or the secular clergy. His new order was to be a preaching order, trained to preach in the vernacular languages but with a sound background in academic theology.

The organization of the Order of Preachers was approved in 1216 by Pope Honorius III.

The Dominicans were a major force in the development and maintenance of the Inquisition, then later of the Holy Office and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Important Dominicans include:

• Dominic
• Albertus Magnus
• Thomas Aquinas
• Catherine of Siena
• Tomas de Torquemada
• Giordano Bruno
• Andrew of Longjumeau
• Girolamo Savonarola

To be integrated in the article:

Albigensians

nuns

tertiaries

See also: Chinese Rites controversy