In two charters, one of Louis the Young, in 1145, and the other of Philip Augustus, in 1218, the old senators of Bourges have the name at one time of _bons hommes,_ at another of _barons_ of the city.

Under different names, in accordance with changes of language, the Roman municipal regimen held on and adapted itself to new social conditions.
In our own day there has been far too much inclination to dispute, and M.Augustin Thierry has, in M.Guizot's opinion, made far too little of, the active and effective part played by the kingship in the formation and protection of the French communes.

Not only did the kings, as we shall presently see, often interpose as mediators in the quarrels of the communes with their laic or ecclesiastical lords, but many amongst them assumed in their own domains and to the profit of the communes an intelligent and beneficial initiative.

The city of Orleans was a happy example of this.

It was of ancient date, and had prospered under the Roman empire; nevertheless the continuance of the Roman municipal regimen does not appear there clearly as we have just seen that it did in the case of Bourges; it is chiefly from the middle ages and their kings that Orleans held its municipal franchises and its privileges; they never raised it to a commune, properly so called, by a charter sworn to and guaranteed by independent institutions, but they set honestly to work to prevent local oppression, to reform abuses, and make justice prevail there.