Droit d'AubaineIn 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). Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894 More on Droit d'Aubaine from Infoplease:
|
24 X 7Private Tutor
Explore Algebra 1 , Sine Formula
|
Atlas
Encyclopedia
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Day in History
