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The so-called Emigré dread is a military fortification located in Urrugne, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, in New Aquitaine. Built between the 4th quarter of the 18th century and the 1st quarter of the 19th century, it is part of a network of more than twenty dreads spread over the communes of Ascain, Sare, Urrugne, Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle and Biriatou. These works were erected to defend the French-Spanish border, especially during the revolutionary wars (1793-1794) and the Napoleonic countryside (1813).

The dread of the Emigrés dominates the Ibardin pass, at an altitude of 394 meters, and is distinguished by its regular plan, combining a rectangular platform to the north and three bastions to the south. Its name would come from a confusion with a demigrated camp on the other side of the Spanish border. It was the scene of fighting in 1793, when it was taken by the Spaniards on 2 May, then taken over by the French in July 1794. In 1813 it was probably captured by Anglo-Hispano-Portuguese troops during the Wellington offensive.

This dread, like others in the area, was designed to house infantrymen and limit their exposure in open terrain. Its entrance, to the south, was protected by a stone chicane, designed to channel the attackers. Although less impressive than some nearby fortifications, such as the Bayonnette or Santa-Barbara, it played a role in the French defensive system, notably under the command of Marshal Soult in 1813. Its architecture reflects the tactical adaptations of the era, mixing ditches, parapets and bastions to optimize defence.

The dreads of the region, including that of the Emigrés, were often constructed of dry stones or earth, with shallow but effective ditches against infantry assaults. Their positioning on the ridges made it possible to control strategic roads, such as the one linking Urrugne to Vera de Bidassoa. In 1813, their weakness was in the absence of a counter-attack capability, with French troops often facing more coordinated and more allied offensives.

The dread of the Emigrés has been included in historical monuments since 7 October 1992 as part of its role in the Franco-Spanish and Napoleonic conflicts. Today, it offers an architectural testimony of the military strategies of the time, in a landscape marked by Pyrenean reliefs and border issues. Its state of conservation allows us to study light fortification techniques, adapted to topographical constraints and local resources.

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