The order began in the early thirteenth century in Languedoc (France), founded by the Spanish canon Dominic de Guzmán for the purpose of fighting the spread of the Cathar heresy. Dominic and his companions chose to fight the heretical doctrines both by preaching and by the example of severe personal asceticism, living in poverty and begging for their food. Since, in order to refute the heterodox . . .