Saints
D

Saint · High medieval

Dominic de Guzmán

Castilian priest who founded the Order of Preachers (Dominicans)

Period
1170–1221
Feast day
8 August
Associated region
Caleruega (Castile); Prouille (France); Bologna (Italy)

Castilian priest who founded the Order of Preachers, which Pope Honorius III authorised in 1216. The checked article names no surviving writing by him.

Key timeline

4 events
View full timeline (5)
  1. 8 August 1170Approximate

    Birth at Caleruega

  2. 1208Traditional

    Rosary vision at Prouille, by Dominican tradition

  3. December 1216

    Written authority to form the Order of Preachers

    From Pope Honorius III.

  4. 6 August 1221

    Death at Bologna

Dominic was born at Caleruega, Old Castile, on 8 August 1170 (infobox date), and died at noon on 6 August 1221 at the convent of St Nicholas in Bologna.

In December 1216 Pope Honorius III granted him written authority to form the Order of Preachers (Ordo Praedicatorum). In 1191, during a famine, the checked article says he gave away his money and sold his clothes, furniture and even precious manuscripts to feed the hungry.

The checked article gives no further detail of the order’s early history.

Principal written sources

  • Authentic writings: none is named in the checked article.
  • Dominican tradition: a vision of the Virgin Mary at Prouille in 1208, in which she gives him the Rosary. The checked article calls it 'a Dominican tradition' and does not identify its first reporter.

Full timeline

  1. 8 August 1170Approximate

    Birth at Caleruega

  2. 1208Traditional

    Rosary vision at Prouille, by Dominican tradition

  3. December 1216

    Written authority to form the Order of Preachers

    From Pope Honorius III.

  4. 6 August 1221

    Death at Bologna

  5. 3 July 1234Church-recognised

    Canonised

    By Pope Gregory IX.

Canonised under Pope Gregory IX in 1234 (3 July is the canonisation anniversary per the article's feast list).

The Arca di San Domenico, a shrine containing his remains, is in the Basilica of San Domenico in Bologna.

Feast day
  • 8 August — Feast day; 6 August is the anniversary of his death
Venerated in (starting dataset)
Catholic, Anglican. Main commemoration 8 August per the checked article. The article also gives 6 August (death anniversary), 3 July (canonisation anniversary) and 24 May (first translation of relics), and notes that observance varies by location and tradition.
Patronage and roles (starting dataset)
Astronomers, Dominican Order, Rosary
Places
Caleruega · Prouille · Bologna

Accounts in the starting dataset

The source workbook lists these under “Confirmed Miracle / Key Event”. The Atlas does not treat them as confirmed: each is labelled by the kind of evidence behind it.

  • TraditionalA vision of the Virgin Mary giving him the Rosary

    “Apparition of Virgin Mary entrusting him with Holy Rosary”

    The checked article places it at Prouille in 1208, 'based on a Dominican tradition', and notes that prayer beads were already well known. It does not say who first reported the vision.

  • UnverifiedRaising a young nobleman from the dead

    “Raising young nobleman (Napoleon Orsini) from dead after fatal horse fall”

    Not in the checked article. Recorded as the workbook’s claim only, and not treated as established.

About the image · Editorial design

Decorative initial D, drawn for the Atlas. It is not a likeness of Dominic.

Editorial status

Reference entry, drafted with particular care. Key dates were spot-checked during this build against the sources marked “checked” below; other references are listed for later verification.

References

  • Reference work✓ Checked in build session

    Saint Dominic

    Wikipedia

    Opened in this session. Checked: birth (8 August 1170, Caleruega) and death (6 August 1221, convent of St Nicholas, Bologna), the December 1216 authority from Honorius III, the 1208 Prouille vision as Dominican tradition, canonisation (1234, Gregory IX), the feast dates, the Arca in the Basilica of San Domenico, and the 1191 sale of manuscripts. Not in article: the Napoleon Orsini story; any surviving writing by him.

  • Workbook linkNot yet checked

    op.org

    Link supplied in the source workbook (“Top 100 Saints”, row 66). It has not been checked to confirm that it supports every claim in that row.

Original workbook record

Imported unchanged from “Top 100 Saints”, row 66. Values here are the starting dataset, not verified facts; where the Atlas differs, the reason is noted below.

#
58
Saint / Title
Saint Dominic de Guzmán
Primary Traditions Veneration
Catholic, Anglican
Feast Day(s)
Aug 8
Era / Lived
1170 – 1221 AD
Origin / Region
Castile, Spain / Bologna
Patronage & Major Roles
Astronomers, Dominican Order, Rosary
Confirmed Miracle / Key Event 1
Apparition of Virgin Mary entrusting him with Holy Rosary
Confirmed Miracle / Key Event 2
Raising young nobleman (Napoleon Orsini) from dead after fatal horse fall
Key Contribution / Historical Significance
Spanish priest who founded Order of Preachers (Dominicans) to combat heresy.
Reference Link
https://www.op.org

Editorial notes on this record

  • Confirmed Miracle / Key Event 2: Raising of Napoleon Orsini: not in the checked article; not carried as established.
  • Confirmed Miracle / Key Event 1: The Rosary vision is a Dominican tradition with no identified first report in the checked article.
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