It was Galileo that was persecuted for promoting heliocentrism (a.k.a. "Copernicanism"). I was never taught that Copernicus was persecuted...but I can see why

It was Galileo that was persecuted for promoting heliocentrism (a.k.a. "Copernicanism"). I was never taught that Copernicus was persecuted...but I can see why some people could get it mixed up. I think you'd have a hard time finding any historians that presented the position that Copernicus himself was persecuted -- it was probably mostly that teachers (etc) remembered incorrectly.