Arnauld, Angélique (1624–1684)

French abbess. Name variations: Angélique de Saint-Jean Arnauld D'Andilly, Mère Angélique de Saint-Jean. Born Angélique Arnauld in 1624; died Jan 29, 1684; niece of Jacqueline Marie Arnauld (Mère Angélique) and Jeanne Catherine Arnauld (Mère Agnès); one of ten children of their eldest brother Robert Arnauld (successful lawyer who later became a hermit at Port Royal) and Catherine de la Boderie (who died when Angélique was only 13).

Known as Mère Angelique de Saint-Jean, spent her life as a nun during a period which saw the height of Port Royal's power and influence and lasted into the days of its persecution and decline, keeping a faithful record of all that she experienced, including the period of her imprisonment for resisting royal authority; was present at the deaths of both her abbess aunts and recorded both in moving descriptions, together with insightful summaries of their characters; is known as the historian of Port Royal for composing the 3-volume account Memoires pour Servir a l'Histoire de Port Royal as well as the Portrait de la Mère Catherine Agnès; more intellectually gifted than either of her abbess aunts, worked with Agnès to compose the order's Constitutions and, in Port Royal's time of greatest trial, worked with Agnès to produce the Advice given to the nuns of Port Royal on their conduct (la conduit qu'elles devraient garder) in case of a change in the government of the house; twice elected abbess of Port Royal.

See also Women in World History.