Émigré
The word émigré is the past participle of the French verb émigrer. It means to emigrate, but carries a heavier weight than simple movement across borders. This term implies political or social exile rather than voluntary migration for economic reasons. A person who has emigrated becomes an émigré when their departure stems from conflict or persecution. The distinction lies in the reason for leaving and the circumstances surrounding that choice.
Many French Huguenots fled France following the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685. These Protestants faced severe religious persecution under Catholic rule after King Louis XIV revoked their legal protections. They sought refuge in Protestant nations like England, the Netherlands, and Prussia. Some established communities where they could practice their faith without fear. Their exodus represented one of the earliest large-scale political displacements in European history.
Many Loyalists made up large portions of colonial United States particularly in the South during the American Revolution. They emigrated by choice or were forced to leave the United States as the war concluded. Common destinations included Upper Canada, Nova Scotia, Great Britain, Jamaica, and the British West Indies. The new government often awarded the lands of fleeing Loyalists to Patriot soldiers by way of land grants. This redistribution of property marked a significant shift in colonial demographics and power structures.
Although the French Revolution began in 1789 as a bourgeois-led drive for increased political equality, it soon turned into violent popular rebellion. To escape political tensions and sometimes in fear for their lives, some emigrated from France. They settled in neighboring countries chiefly Great Britain, Spain, Germany, Austria, and Prussia. A few also migrated to North America seeking safety from the guillotine and revolutionary tribunals. These refugees carried with them the cultural legacy of the old regime.
Throughout the nineteenth century Poland was occupied by the partitioning powers of Austria, Prussia and Russia. Poles struggled for independence in a series of failed uprisings which resulted in many having to seek refuge in Western Europe. Known as the Wielka Emigracja, this movement included artists, soldiers, politicians and prisoners-of-war who escaped from captivity. Most of the political émigrés based themselves in France to avoid reprisals like being forcefully sent to Siberia. The spirit of Polish émigrés lives on through one of the unofficial mottos of Poland: For our freedom and yours.
The Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 and the subsequent Russian Civil War led many notable political and intellectual figures to leave Russia. Among these were Russian White émigrés who fervently opposed the new communist regime after their defeat. After the October Revolution more than 20,000 émigrés went to Finland and Yugoslavia notably Pyotr Wrangel. Many however moved on to France where Paris became the favourite destination for Russian émigrés. Many others traveled east to China especially to Harbin and Shanghai seeking new opportunities away from Soviet control.
Aristocrats of some European countries were forced to leave their native lands by political upheavals from the beginning of the 20th century to the end of World War II. They opted to emigrate elsewhere such as the Serbs and Romanians in 1945 and after. Hungarians fled in 1956 while Czechs and Slovaks left in 1968 following Soviet intervention. In 2016, 5,411 US citizens living in other countries relinquished their US citizenship often attributed to extraterritorial laws like the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2010. After the historical electoral victory in South Africa by the ANC in 1994 many Afrikaners emigrated citing discrimination in employment and social violence as reasons.
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Common questions
What is the definition of émigré according to the script text?
The word émigré is the past participle of the French verb émigrer and implies political or social exile rather than voluntary migration for economic reasons. A person becomes an émigré when their departure stems from conflict or persecution.
Why did many French Huguenots flee France in 1685?
Many French Huguenots fled France following the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685 because they faced severe religious persecution under Catholic rule after King Louis XIV revoked their legal protections. They sought refuge in Protestant nations like England, the Netherlands, and Prussia.
Where did Loyalists go after leaving the United States during the American Revolution?
Common destinations for Loyalists who emigrated by choice or were forced to leave included Upper Canada, Nova Scotia, Great Britain, Jamaica, and the British West Indies. The new government often awarded the lands of fleeing Loyalists to Patriot soldiers by way of land grants.
Which countries did Polish Wielka Emigracja refugees settle in during the nineteenth century?
Most of the political émigrés based themselves in France to avoid reprisals like being forcefully sent to Siberia while others escaped from captivity to Western Europe. This movement included artists, soldiers, politicians and prisoners-of-war who struggled for independence against partitioning powers of Austria, Prussia and Russia.
What happened to Russian White émigrés after the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917?
After the October Revolution more than 20,000 émigrés went to Finland and Yugoslavia notably Pyotr Wrangel before many moved on to France where Paris became the favourite destination for Russian émigrés. Many others traveled east to China especially to Harbin and Shanghai seeking new opportunities away from Soviet control.