1766-Jun.-24: A formal convention was signed in Vienna between King Louis XV and the Empress-Queen of Hungary and Bohemia to abolish the “Droit d’Aubaine” (r…

1766-Jun.-24: A formal convention was signed in Vienna between King Louis XV and the Empress-Queen of Hungary and Bohemia to abolish the “Droit d’Aubaine” (right of escheat) in their respective territories. This landmark diplomatic agreement granted subjects the right to dispose of their property through wills and enabled heirs to claim successions across international borders. For a colony like Saint-Domingue, which hosted a significant population of foreign residents, this legal shift was vital for the long-term security of family inheritance. The treaty represented a significant step toward the standardization of civil and property rights among the major European powers of the Enlightenment.