The origin of the Order of the Preaching Friars has already been
described. It is not necessary to dwell upon the constitution of this
order, because in all essential respects it was like that of the
Franciscans. The order is ruled by a general and is divided into
provinces, governed by provincials. The head of each house is called a
prior. Dominic adopted the rules laid down by St. Augustine, because
the pope ordered him to follow some one of the older monastic codes,
but he also added regulations of his own.
Soon after the founding of the order, bands of monks were sent out
to Paris, to Rome, to Spain and to England, for the purpose of planting
colonies in the chief seats of learning. The order produced many
eminent scholars, some of whom were Thomas Aquinas, Albertus Magnus,
Echard, Tauler and Savonarola.
As among the Franciscans, there was also an Order of Nuns, founded
in 1206, and a Third Order, called the Militia of Jesus Christ, which
was organized in 1218.