Placitum

In the early Middle Ages, a '''' (Latin for "plea") was a public judicial assembly. origins can be traced to military gatherings in the Frankish kingdoms in the seventh century. After the Frankish conquest of Italy in 774, were introduced before the end of the eighth century. Also known as "Marchfields" or "Mayfields" (based on the month of the gathering), early meetings were used as planning sessions for military expeditions.

Originally, the term most commonly referred to the , or , a plenary assembly of the entire kingdom, whereat military and legislative matters, such as the promulgation of capitularies, predominated over judicial functions. The nature of these assemblies is described by the ninth-century prelate Hincmar in his . Later, the term came primarily to prefer to the public court presided over by the or to the higher court of the count (otherwise called a ). The frequency at which were held was governed by capitularies. All free men were required to attend and those who did not were fined. Eventually, because the counts, their deputies (the viscounts) and the centenars abused their power to summon in order to profit from the fines, men were required to attend no more than three a year. The presiding magistrate usually brought with him judges, notaries and to address questions of law.