The Duchy of Orléanais () is a former

royal duchy Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of Royal family, royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, t ...

, which was created during reign of

Hugh Capet Hugh Capet (; french: Hugues Capet ; c. 939 – 14 October 996) was the King of the Franks from 987 to 996. He is the founder and first king from the House of Capet. The son of the powerful duke Hugh the Great and his wife Hedwige of Saxony, ...

by elevating the former County of Orléans. In 1498, as part of a centralisation of France under

Louis XII Louis XII (27 June 14621 January 1515), was King of France from 1498 to 1515 and King of Naples from 1501 to 1504. The son of Charles, Duke of Orléans, and Maria of Cleves, he succeeded his 2nd cousin once removed and brother in law at the tim ...

, the duchy was dissolved and replaced by the Province of Orléanais which was informally still known as the 'Duchy of Orléanais'.

History

The Duchy of Orléanais was created in 1344 by raising the former County of Orléans to a Dukedom under King Philip VI for his second son Philip de Valois. With the creation of the duchy, several localities around the former county were also integrated, they included the County of Beaugency and the Seigneurities of

Neuville-aux-Bois Neuville-aux-Bois () is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France. Notable people * Damien Plessis, footballer See also * Communes of the Loiret department The following is the list of the 325 communes of the Loiret depart ...

, Yèvre-le-Châtel,

Châteauneuf-en-Thymerais Châteauneuf-en-Thymerais () is a commune in Eure-et-Loir department in northern France. The commune was once an important stronghold reigning over the whole natural and historic province of Thymerais. Born of the fierce determination of its f ...

Lorris Lorris () is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France. Geography Lorris is located northeast of Sully-sur-Loire, southwest of Montargis, east of Orléans and south of Paris. It is in the southernmost part of the historic ...

, and

Boiscommun Boiscommun () is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France. Population See also *Communes of the Loiret department The following is the list of the 325 communes of the Loiret department of France. The communes cooperate ...

. In 1375, Prince Philip died without a legitimate heir, the title of 'Duke of Orléans' and the duchy itself were merged into the royal domain (crown lands) of the King of France.Madelaine, p. 404 In 1392, the duchy was re-created by King Charles VI for his younger brother Louis de Valois-Orléans. The duke was later succeeded by his son Charles de Valois-Orléans who reigned until 1465 when he died of natural causes. He was succeeded by his own son Louis de Valois-Orléans, who became King Louis XII in 1498 and the title was merged into the crown once more. In 1498, as part of a centralisation of the different regions of France, the duchy was dissolved and replaced by the new Province of Orléanais.de Lavergne, p. 161–162Masson, p. 33

Footnotes

References

* * * * {{Cite book , last=Duquesne , first=Jean , url= , title=Dictionnaire des Gouverneurs de Province: Novembre 1315 – Février 1791 , publisher=Christian , year=2003 , isbn=978-2864960997 , location=Paris, France , language=fr , trans-title=Dictionary of Provincial Governors: November 1315 – February 1791 , oclc=53216067 States and territories established in the 980s States and territories disestablished in the 1490s 1498 disestablishments Geographic history of France Centre-Val de Loire Orléanais History of Centre-Val de Loire History of Pays de la Loire History of Cher (department) History of Essonne History of Eure-et-Loir History of Indre-et-Loire History of Loir-et-Cher History of Orléans Former monarchies of Europe Former duchies of France