Lérins

Small islands in the Mediterranean, near Cannes; held by France. On Ste. Marguerite, anciently Lero, now a convict station, the Man in the Iron Mask was confined 1686-98, and Gen. Bazaine 1874. St. Honor at, or Lerina, was the site of a rich and famous convent, founded 400, plundered by Arabs in 8th century, by Saracens 10th, and more ef fectually by the Avignon popes 1305-77.