Raymond Nonnatus was a 13th-century Mercedarian friar and missionary born in Portell, Catalonia. His unusual name, meaning "not born," stems from the fact that he was delivered via Caesarean section following his mother's death during labor. As a member of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, he dedicated his life to ransoming Christian captives. He eventually rose to become the Master General of his order, performing significant missionary work in Valencia and North Africa to liberate enslaved people.