one of the généralités (“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 Orléans but also a number of adjacent lands; in terms of modern départements it includes most of Loiret, Loir-et-Cher, and Eure-et-Loir, with parts of Essonne, Seine-et-Marne, and Sarthe. Thus, Orléanais was the country around Orléans, the pagus Aurelianensis, and for ecclesiastical purposes formed the diocese of Orléans. It was in the possession of the Capet family before the advent of Hugh Capet to the French throne in 987.