ABSTRACT
AlthoughitisacommonplaceofFrenchhistorythatambitiousyoung menyearnedtoleavetheirprovincialhomesforParis,itisnonetheless ofinteresttoinquireintothereasonsforthe"ascenttoParis"byyoung physicianstrainedinMontpellier.Thisisespeciallytruesinceserious obstaclesfacedMontpelliergraduateswhowantedtopursuecareersin Paris.Legally,Montpelliergraduateswereexcludedfrompracticingin thecapital.ThroughoutthecenturyMontpellierainsclaimedthatthis exclusionwasillegitimateandthatthemedievalprovisionof"hieet ubiqueterrarum"("hereandeverywhereonearth")shouldapplyto degreesaccordednowasinearliercenturies.Butinfacttherequirement thatphysicianspracticinginParishavedegreesfromtheParisfaculty hadbeendefinitivefromthelateseventeethcentury.1Thusinthe eighteenthcenturyMontpelliergraduateshadtorepeattheir examinationsandpayfeesanewtogaintherighttopracticeinParis. Theonlyexceptiontothisdisabilitywastheimportantclassof physiciansattachedtothecourt,whogainedbytheirservicethe prerogativetopracticeanywhereinthekingdom.2
