Why did Louis xiv persecute the jansenists?

Answer 1

Louis XIV persecuted the Jansenists primarily because he viewed their theological beliefs as a challenge to his authority and the unity of the Catholic Church, which he sought to strengthen under his rule. The Jansenists, who emphasized original sin and predestination, opposed the more lenient views of the Jesuits, leading to religious tensions. Louis XIV aimed to consolidate power by enforcing religious conformity, seeing the Jansenists as a threat to both his political and religious agenda. This persecution included the suppression of their writings and the closure of their institutions.