EMIGRES, the name given more especially to those persons who qUitted France during the revolution. After the insurrection at Paris, and the taking of the Bastile, 14th July, 1789, the princes of the royal family departed from Franco. They.were followed, after the adoption of the constitution of 1791, by all who considered themselves aggrieved by the destruction of their privileges, or who were exposed to persecution. Nobles quitted their chateaus; officers, with whole companies, passed the frontiers. Crowds of priests and monks lied to escape the oath of allegiance to the constitution. Belgium, Piedmont, Holland, Switzerland, and, above all, Germany, were overrun with fugitives of every age. Only a few had been able to save their property; the greater portion were in a state of destitution, and sank into utter demoralization. A court had formed itself round the princes at Coblenz ; a government, with ministers and a court of justice, had been established, and communication was kept up with all the foreign. courts unfavor able to the revolution. This conduct imbittered France, aggravated the position of the king, and drove the revolutionary party fory:ard in their sanguinary career. Under the command of the prince of Conde, a body of E. was formed, which followed the Prussian army into Champagne. The result was that the severest laws were now put in force against the emigres. Their lands were confiscated. The penalty of death was pro claimed against any one who should support or enter into communication with them.
Thirty thousand persons were placed upon the list of E., and exiled forever from the soil of France, although many of them had refused to bear arms against their country. Not until after the failure of their attempt to land at Quiberon in 1795, did the E. abandon all thoughts of penetrating into France by force of arms. Conde's corps, after the peace of Luneville, was obliged formally to dissolve, and sought an asylum in Russia. Even under the directory, however, many had endeavored to obtain permis sion to return to France. The general amnesty proclaimed by the first consul was therefore joyfully hailed by the greater portion of the emigres. Many, however, did not return home till after the downfall of Napoleon. Dignities, pensions, and offices were now showered upon these faithful adherents; but, according to the charter of 1814, they were unable to recover either their estates or their privileges. Finally, on the motion of the minister Villele, the E. who had lost their landed estates, by the law of the 27th April, 1825, received a compensation of 30 million francs yearly on the capital of 1000 million francs. After the July revolution, however, the grant was withdrawn. Compare Antoine de Saint-Gervais, IIistoire des Emigres Franfais (3 vols., Paris, 1823), and Montrol, Histoire de l'Emigration (2d edit., Paris, 1825).