E. A. CARMAN.
port-roi'al, a Cistercian convent in France, which played an important part in the Jansenist controversy (see JANSEN ISM). It was founded in 1204 by Mahaut de Garlande, wife of Matthieu de Montmorency, was situated near Chevreuse in the Yvette Val ley, at what is now called Les Hameaux, about 15 miles southwest of Paris, and was under the rule of Saint Bernard. The original name of the site was Porrais or Porrois; this was trans formed first into Port-du-roi, then into Port Royal. Port-Royal had declined from its origi nal severity, when in 1609 the abbess Jacqueline Marie-Angelique-Arnauld undertook its reform. The number of the nuns increased under her rule, and in 1625 amounted to 80. The building had become insufficient, and the situation was unhealthy. The mother of the abbess therefore presented to the nuns the house of Cluny, situ ated at the end of the Faubourg Saint Jacques in Paris. The old site was subsequently im proved by drainage, and a new house built on higher ground. The two sections of the con vent were now distinguished as Port-Royal des Champs and Port-Royal de Paris. About 1636 a group of eminent literary men of religious tendencies, mostly the relatives of the abbess, took up their residence at a house called Les Granges, near Port-Royal des Champs, where they devoted themselves to devotional exercises, manual and literary work, the education of youth, and the compilation of educational works. These were regarded as forming a joint com munity with the nuns of Port-Royal, among whom most of them had relatives, and who in most matters followed their counsels. Among them were Antoine Arnauld, Arnauld D'Andilly, le Maistre de Sacy and his two brothers, the first two being brothers, the last three nephews of the abbess; Nicole, and subsequently Pascal, whose sister Jacqueline was a nun of Port Royal. These men founded here an educational institution, which flourished till 1660, and be came a rival to the institutions of the Jesuits, and as they adopted the views of Jansenius, subsequently condemned by the pope, a quarrel ensued, in which the Port-Royalist nuns, siding with their male friends, became subject to the opposition of the Jesuits, which culminated in the ruin of their institution. Port-Royal de Paris had, in the meantime, been growing rapidly in wealth and influence. It was pro tected by many persons of high rank at the court, some of whom made it their last retreat and bequeathed their fortunes to it. It was under the direction of the Abbe de Saint Cyran (Duvergier de Hauranne), whose virulent Jan senism led, during the last days of Richelieu, to his imprisonment in Fort Saint Vincennes. During the wars of the Fronde the house in the country exercised a liberal hospitality. The history of the struggle in which the two con vents of Port-Royal successively succumbed to their foes is too long to be dealt with here. It
has been related in detail by Racine, the most distinguished pupil of the Port-Royalist semi nary, in his (Histoire de Port-Royal.' The most remarkable incident in it was the miracle alleged to have been wrought upon the person of the niece of Pascal, and firmly believed in by two such men as Pascal and Racine. The object of this miracle, wrought by means of a thorn from the crown of our Saviour, was to demonstrate the innocence of the nuns of Port-Royal, accused by their opponents of con tempt of the holy sacrament. But this vindi cation was unavailing. In 1664 Port-Royal de Paris was occupied by the police. The nuns, save few who acceded to the terms of the court, and henceforth became declared enemies of their former associates, were imprisoned for some months and then sent to Port-Royal des Champs, which was put under military sur veillance till 1669. In 1669 the two houses were permanently separated by royal authority. Port-Royal des Champs retained 80 nuns and two-thirds of the joint property, Port-Royal de Paris 10 nuns and one-third of the joint prop erty, and was placed perpetually under the nomination of the king. The nuns of Port Royal des Champs still persisted in refusing to sign the papal edict condemning the doctrines of Jansenius, and on 29 Oct. 1709 the convent was finally suppressed by order of Cardinal Noailles, in execution of a bull of Pope Clement XI. The nuns were dispersed in different con vents, and their property given to Port-Royal de Paris. This convent continued in existence till the Revolution, when its house was converted into a prison, and subsequently (1814) became the Maternity Hospital. In 1825 some Jansenist descendants bought the site at Les Hameaux, on which they have erected a museum rich in Jan senist relics. The grounds have been restored as far as possible to their original appearances. (See AratAtn..n; JANsErrisat ; PASCAL, BLAISE). Consult Gregoire, (Les Ruines de Port Royal' (1809); Beard, Charles,
Royal' (2 vols., London 1861) ; Cadet, Felix,