In France the king was entitled, at the death of foreign
residents (except Swiss and Scots), to all their movable estates; the
law was only abolished in 1819. Aubain means “alien,” and
droit d'aubaine the
“right over an alien's property.”
“Had I died that night of an indigestion, the whole world could not
have suspended the effects of the droits d'aubaine: my shirts
and black pair of breeches, portmauteau and all, must have gone to the
king of France.” —Sterne: Sentimental Journey (Introduction).
More on Droit d'Aubaine from Infoplease:
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