Orléans is a city and commune in north-central France, about 130 km (80 miles) southwest of Paris. It is the préfecture of the Loiret département and of the Centre région. The schools of Orléans early acquired great prestige; in the 6th century Gontran, King of Burgundy, had his son Gondebaud educated there. After Theodolfus had developed and improved the schools, Charlemagne, and later Hugh Capet, sent their eldest sons there as pupils. These institutions were at the height of their fame from the 11th century to the middle of the 13th. Their influence spread as far as Italy and England whence students came to them. Among the medieval rhetorical treatises which have come down to us under the title of Ars or Summa Dictaminis four, at least, were written or re-edited by Orléans professors. In 1230, when for a time the doctors of the University of Paris were scattered, a number of the teachers and disciples took refuge in Orléans; when pope Boniface VIII, in 1298, promulgated the sixth book of the Decretals, he appointed the doctors of Bologna and the doctors of Orléans to comment upon it.