Saint Dominic (1170 - 1221) was the founder of the Dominican Order. He was canonised in 1234 and is buried in Bologna.
He came to prominence by the example he set the heretical Albigensians and his attempts to persuade them to return to orthodox doctrine. He established his order in 1215 and it received Papal sanction in 1216. The Dominicans were supporters of learning, enemies of heresy and, like the followers of Saint Francis, based their lives on poverty and preaching. They are sometimes symbolised by a dog: the domini canis (dog of the lord), which is usually black and white like their monastic habits.