ORLEANAIS

one of the gnralits (generalities) into which France was divided before the Revolution of 1789. It comprised not only the territory of the original countship and the later duchy of Orlans but also a number of adjacent lands; in terms of modern dpartements it includes most of Loiret, Loir-et-Cher, and Eure-et-Loir, with parts of Seine-et-Oise and Sarthe. Thus Orlanais was the country around Orlans, the pagus Aurelianensis, and for ecclesiastical purposes formed the diocese of Orlans. It was in the possession of the Capet family before the advent of Hugh Capet to the French throne in 987.