Orleans

Orleans was a French royal duchy centred on the city of Orleans. Philip VI raised the county to a duchy for his son Philip in 1344; it returned to the crown when Philip died without a legitimate heir in 1375.

Charles VI recreated the duchy for his brother Louis in 1392. Louis struggled with John the Fearless of Burgundy for influence over France and was murdered on John's orders in 1407. The duchy returned to the crown when Louis's grandson became King Louis XII in 1498.