La France italienne à Port-Royal

Abstract

The expression “Italian France” refers to the influence of Italian immigrants in France at the end of the sixteenth century and in the first half of the seventeenth century. This article focuses on two families of bankers which had links with one another, the Gondis and the Zamettis (or Zamets). From the outset, the Gondis encouraged Angélique in her Cistercian reform, then helped her to carry out the transfer to Paris and establish the Institut du Saint-Sacrement. They supported her with the help of Sébastien Zamet, the bishop of Langres and their ally. Later, between 1640 and 1660, accusations of heresy against Port-Royal coincided with initiatives against the Gondis by Richelieu and then Mazarin. Both the growth of Port-Royal and its persecution were always linked to the fate of these Italian families in France.