In the earlyMiddle Ages, aplacitum (Latin for "plea") was a public judicial assembly.Placita origins can be traced to military gatherings in theFrankish kingdoms in the seventh century. After theFrankish conquest of Italy in 774,placita were introduced before the end of the eighth century.[1] Also known as "Marchfields" or "Mayfields" (based on the month of the gathering), early meetings were used as planning sessions for military expeditions.[2]
Originally, the term most commonly referred to theplacitum generalis, orconventus, a plenary assembly of the entire kingdom, whereat military and legislative matters, such as the promulgation ofcapitularies, predominated over judicial functions. The nature of these assemblies is described by the ninth-century prelateHincmar in hisDe ordini palatii. Later, the termplacitum came primarily to prefer to the public court presided over by thecentenarius or to the higher court of the count (otherwise called amallus). The frequency at whichplacita 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 (theviscounts) and the centenars abused their power to summon in order to profit from the fines, men were required to attend no more than threeplacita a year. The presiding magistrate usually brought with him judges, notaries andscabini to address questions of law.[1]
The publicplacitum declined in the tenth and eleventh centuries as the process of "feudalization" turned formerly public offices into seignorial jurisdictions. Nonetheless, the language and procedures of theplacita survived down to the end of the Middle Ages, while the tradition of theplacita generalia was continued in theestates general and theestates provincial.[1]