PORT ROYAL-DES-CHAMPS, a convent of Cistercian nuns, near Versailles, which obtained much celebrity during the 17th century. It was founded for nuns by a mem ber of the family of Montmorenci, in the early part of the 13 c.; and soon after its estab lishment, obtained from the pope the privilege of receiving lay persons, who, without taking monastic vows, desired to live in religious retirement. This portion of the Port Royal-des-Champs institute in later times became of great importance. The discipline of the convent been much relaxed iu the 15th and 16th centuries, one of its worst abuses—that of appointing the superior, not on account of fitness, but from considera tions of family or other worldly or political motives—became in the end the occasion of its complete reformation. Angelique Arnauld, sister of the celebrated brothers Arnauld, was appointed, when a mere child, coadjutrix ;A the abbess, and on the death of this lady, although she was then only in her elev'enth year, herself succeeded to the office. As mere Angelique advanced in years, she felt moved, although still very young, by a profound sense of her responsibilities, and undertook a complete and rigid reformation of the community, which she carried out iu all its details—as the strict observance of religious poverty, abstinence from meat, complete seclusion, and the most severe ascetic exercises. The community was removed to Paris in 1R26, and in 1633 to a new convent, which was thenceforword called Port Royal-de-Paris; and from this time the old establish ment of Port Royal-des-Champs was exclusively devoted to the use of a lay community, in accordance with the original papal privilege. This community quickly became very celebrated, an3 soon numbered among its inmates some of the most distinguished schol ars of that age, .2tntony Arnauld, Le Maistre, Antony and Louis Isaac le Maistre de Sacy, Nicole, Lancelot, Sericourt, and several others. Their rule of life was most austere, rising at 3 A. it., devoting many hours to prayer and spiritual reading and instruction, and a portion of the day to manual labor. One of their most important public services was the establishment of a school, for which they prepared the well-known educational books known under the name of Port Royal, the Greek and Latin grammars, general grammar, geometry, art of thinking, etc. This school was for a time transferred to
Paris, a portion of the nuns being sent back to Port Royal-des-Champs; but eventually it was established at an out-farm of the latter place, called Les Granges.
Port Royal-des-Champs, however, is even more known in history through its relations with the Jansenist controversy. The nature and origin of these relations have been explained in the article Jansen (q.v.). It only remains to relate the later fortunes of Port Royal-des-Champs and its members, in so far as they were affected by the proceed ings taken in consequence by the authorities, whether civil or ecclesiastical. The nuns of Port Royal-des-Champs having refused to subscril.e the formularly condemning the five propositions, a royal order was issued in 16:30 for the suppression of the school, and the removal of the boarders of Port Royal-des-Champs; and at length the abbess, and several other nuns, were arrested, and confined as prisoners in other monasteries. After the "peace of Clement IX.," they were permitted to return; but the two com munities, Port Royal-des-Champs and Port Royal-de-Paris, were placed under separate government. This led to many disputes, and to a perpetuation in Port Royal-des-Champs of the Jansenistic spirit and the Jansenistic opinions; and when the final steps for the repression of that party were taken about 1707, a formal bull was issued by pope Clement XI. for the suppression of that convent, and the transfer of its property to Port Royal-de-Paris. The nuns, accordingly, were finally dispersed and distributed over convents of -different orders throughout France. The property of the convent and church were transferred to the Paris 'house, and all the buildings of Port Royal des-Champs were leveled to the ground, by order the Most of the eminent names connected with Port Royal-des-Champs will be found treated under separatq heads.