Raymond of Peñafort was a 13th-century Spanish Dominican friar, born around 1175 in Catalonia. He is best known for his work in canon law and for compiling the Decretals, a collection of papal letters and legal decisions that helped shape the Church's legal framework. In addition to his legal contributions, Raymond was a prominent figure in the establishment of the Dominican Order in Spain. He served as the confessor to King James I of Aragon and played a significant role in the Christian reconquest of Spain from the Moors. He was canonized as a saint in 1601.