Abstract EN:

The word "elite" for historians refers to all those thought to be at hightest position of the society by their contemporaries without expressing any value judgement. The work carried out there tries to define the elites of Orléans from 1848 to 1914, emphasing the relations by which this urban society as well as its behaviours have been organized in a logic of local distinction. If, during that period, in some other places the indusrial sees the decline of the domination of the land ownership, the falling of landed aristocracy and the coming bourgeoisie, Orléans, which was formerly an industious and merchant city, tend to change in the 19th century into a city of pensioners those safe strategies to invest, lead some fortunes as well as way of life to become more rural. Thus the wealthy citizen from Orléans exerts his patronage on the countrysides nearby and the poor of his city. Trade is changes into a mere commerce, however letting some new wealthy upper-class families emerge. If some people wanted to belong to this elite, they needed first a high income but compared to a standard of living, the source of income, the real estate, the living area or the hiring of household prove to be decisive. The elite of Orléans asserts its social level by gathering within associations, whether they are official or spontaneous, without however getting mixed with the local aristocracy or bourgeoisie: educated societies, lounge meetings, clubs, charities or some public events like races or every way to express sociability and distinction.