The Duchy of Orléanais () is a former province of France, which was created during the Renaissance by merging four former counties and towns. However after the French Revolution, the province was dissolved in 1791 and succeeded by five départments (less some communes to others).
Dukedom
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, Yèvre-le-Châtel, Châteauneuf-en-Thymerais, Lorris, and Boiscommun. 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.thumb|300x300px|Location of Orléanais within modern departments.
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 1495 and the title was merged into the crown once more.
In 1519, the dukedom was once again created by King Francis I for his second son Henri de Valois-Angoulême. However, Henri later renounced his title when he became Dauphin of France (heir to the throne) in 1536. He was then succeeded by his son Charles de Valois-Angoulême who reigned as duke until he died of the flu in 1545.
In 1626, Louis XIII re-created the Dukedom of Orléans for his younger brother Gaston, Duke of Anjou who reigned as duke until 1660 when he died of natural causes. Once again the title merged into the crown for the last time.
In 1558, the province was elevated into a Generality (Géneralité) or General Government (Gouvernment Général) and a permanent governor was installed in the region. During this period, the Duke of Orléans was de jure owner of the land, but the Governor was de facto overseer of the province.
In 1776, as part of a reorganisation of the military general governments (provinces), the governments were divided into three categories. The highest or "most important" were the First Category including notably Rennes, Lyon, Aix, Strasbourg, and Metz; the Second Category included Orléanais, La Rochelle, Angoulême, Nevers; and the Special Category including Paris and Monaco.
In 1791, under the auspicious of 'unity of France', the provinces were dissolved and succeeded by smaller départments. The former province was split between several new départments: Loiret, Loir-et-Cher, Eure-et-Loir, Seine-et-Oise, and Yonne.
Some communes joined other départments, including:
- Cher (Brinon-sur-Sauldre)
- Essonne (Abbéville-la-Rivière, Angerville, Authon-la-Plaine, Auvers-Saint-Georges, Blandy, Boigneville, Bois-Herpin, Boissy-la-Rivière, Boissy-le-Cutté, Bouville, Brouy, Cerny, Chalo-Saint-Mars, Chalou-Moulineux, Chatignonville, Champmotteux, Chauffour-lès-Étréchy, Courdimanche-sur-Essonne, D'Huison-Longueville, Estouches, Étampes, Étréchy, Fontaine-la-Rivière, La Forêt-Sainte-Croix, Gironville-sur-Essonne, Guillerval, Maisse, Marolles-en-Beauce, Méréville, Mérobert, Mespuits, Monnerville, Morigny-Champigny, Ormoy-la-Rivière, Orveau, Plessis-Saint-Benoist, Prunay-sur-Essonne, Puiselet-le-Marais, Pussay, Richarville, Roinvilliers, Saclas, Saint-Cyr-la-Rivière, Saint-Escobille, Congerville-Thionville, Valpuiseaux, Vayres-sur-Essonne, and Villeneuve-sur-Auvers)
- Indre-et-Loire (Chemillé-sur-Dême, Épeigné-sur-Dême, La Ferrière, Les Hermites, and Monthodon)
- Sarthe (La Chapelle-Huon, Marolles-lès-Saint-Calais, Poncé-sur-le-Loir, Ruillé-sur-Loir, Saint-Calais, and Saint-Gervais-de-Vic)
- Seine-et-Marne (Boulancourt and Buthiers)
- Yvelines (Ablis, Allainville, Boinville-le-Gaillard, Orsonville, Paray-Douaville, Prunay-en-Yvelines, and Saint-Martin-de-Bréthencourt)
Administration
Governors
A governor of a province in France before the revolution was initially the representative of the King in the area and held no real power. Until the transformations under Louis XIV, the governorship of a province was more of a de jure appointment, and had no status in decision making. However, after Louis XIV's reforms, the governorship of a province transformed into a military-held appointment. From then, the governor was not just the King's representative, but also military commander of the area. In addition to his military duties, the governor was de facto leader of the province while the titular holder (ex: Duke of Orléans) was de jure owner of the province. Below is a list of the Governors of Orléanais:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Portrait
!Name
!Tenure
!Appointee
|-
|center|274x274px|Portrait de Guillaume de Montmorency - MBA Lyon
|Guillaume de Montmorency, Seigneur of Châteauneuf and of Damville
|
|Louis XII
|-
|center|100x100px|?uestionmark
|Lancelot du Lac, Seigneur of Chamerolles and of Chilleurs
|
|Louis XII
|-
|center|100x100px|?uestionmark
|Claude du Lac, Baron of Broyes, Seigneur of Chamerolles and of Chilleurs
|
|Francis I
|-
|center|110x110px|Blason de Brou
|Claude Robertet, Baron of Alluye and of Brou
|
|Henry II
|-
|center|100x100px|?uestionmark
|Philibert de Marcilly, Seigneur of Sipierre
|
|Charles IX
|-
|237x237px
|François de Bourbon, Duke of Montpensier
|
|Charles IX
|-
|254x254px
|Artus de Cossé-Brissac, Baron of Gonnor, Count of Secondigny
|
|Charles IX
|-
|298x298px
|Philippe Hurault, Count of Chiverny and of Limoux
|
|Henry III
|-
|center|100x100px|?uestionmark
|François de Balzac, Seigneur of Entraigues
|
|Henry III
|-
|center|100x100px|?uestionmark
|Guillaume Charles de Balzac, Seigneur of Marcoussy
|
|Henry III
|-
|center|300x300px
|François d'Orléans Longueville, Count of Saint-Pol
|
|Henry IV
|-
|center|100x100px|?uestionmark
|Léonor II d'Orléans, Duke of Fronsac
|
|Louis XIII
|-
|center|100x100px|?uestionmark
|François de Valois, Duke of Fronsac
|
|Louis XIII
|-
|center|258x258px|Chambord - tableau Gaston d'Orléans
|Gaston de Bourbon, Duke of Orléans
|
|Louis XIII
|-
|center|100x100px|?uestionmark
|Charles d'Escoubleau de Sourdis, Marquis of Alluyes
|
|Louis XIII
|-
|center|100x100px|?uestionmark
|Paul d'Escoubleau de Sourdis, Marquis of Alluyes
|
|Louis XIV
|-
|center|267x267px|Le cardinal François de Sourdis par Le Bernin
|François d'Escoubleau, Count of Sourdis, Seigner of Gaujac, Estillac, and of Chabanais
|
|Louis XIV
|-
|center|270x270px|1710 portrait of Louis Antoine de Pardaillan de Gondrin, Duke of Antin wearing the Order of the Holy Spirit by Hyacinthe Rigaud (Versailles)
|Louis-Antoine de Pardaillan de Gondron, Marquis of Antin and of Montespan, Duke of Antin
|
|Louis XIV
|-
|center|100x100px|?uestionmark
|Louis de Pardaillan de Gondrin, Duke of Antin
|
|Louis XV
|-
|center|100x100px|?uestionmark
|Louis de Pardaillan de Gondrin, Duke of Antin
|
|Louis XV
|-
|center|100x100px|?uestionmark
|François Charles, Count of Rochechouart-Faudoas
|
|Louis XV
|-
|center|100x100px|?uestionmark
|Aymery Louis Roger, Count of Rochechouart-Faudoas
|
|Louis XVI
|}
Assemblies
In 1558, most provinces in France were separated further into tax districts or Élections. Orléanais included the following: Beauce, Blésois, Vendômois, Bas-Vendômois, Chartrès, Dunois, and Gâtinais (only part).
The Généralite of Orléanis had a 52 member assembly in Orléans who worked alongside the Duke of Orléans to run the province. Among the notable presidents was Anne-Charles-Sigismond de Montmorency-Luxembourg, Duke of Montmorency-Luxembourg.