Pronunciation: [ˈɔːbe͡ɪn] (IPA) 
"Aubaine" is a French word that can be spelled in multiple ways in English. The phonetic transcription for "aubaine" is /o'bɛn/. The first syllable is pronounced as "oh," followed by the sound of the letter "b" and a short "eh" sound. The final syllable has a long "a" sound followed by the letter "n." This word is often used to describe a windfall, a lucky chance or a bargain, and is commonly seen in French law and real estate.
Aubaine is a French term that denotes an archaic law or custom related to the right of seizing a deceased person's property. Derived from the Old French word "auban," meaning "windfall" or "sudden stroke of luck," aubaine refers to the legal principle or practice wherein the goods and estate of a foreigner who dies within a certain jurisdiction, particularly in feudal France, may be confiscated by the sovereign or lord of that territory.
In feudal times, the aubaine law allowed local rulers to appropriate the possessions of deceased foreigners to their own benefit. It was based on the premise that foreigners did not have the same rights or protections as citizens or residents. Consequently, the aubaine law granted the lord or sovereign the privilege of acquiring the goods, wealth, and land left behind by foreign individuals who died within his jurisdiction. In essence, aubaine was viewed as a form of state-enforced inheritance or confiscation.
Over time, the aubaine law evolved and was influenced by various legal reforms and international treaties. It gradually fell into disuse and was abolished in France during the French Revolution. The principle behind aubaine, however, remains significant in legal history as an illustration of the power dynamics between foreigners and local rulers in medieval and early modern Europe. Nowadays, the term "aubaine" is rarely used in a legal context but may occasionally appear in historical or comparative legal discussions.
The word "aubaine" originated from the Late Latin term "albinum" or "album", which meant "white" or "blank". In the Middle Ages, "aubaine" referred to goods or property left behind by someone who passed away without any heirs or a will. It could also describe the right claimed by a lord to seize such property. The term later evolved to refer to the rights, taxes, or duties imposed on foreigners or non-natives in a particular country. This concept of treating foreigners differently gave rise to various legal and fiscal practices in different countries across Europe, often with elements of discrimination against non-natives.
