In the early Middle Ages, a placitum (Latin for "plea") was a public judicial assembly.
[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 the placitum generalis, or conventus, a plenary assembly of the entire kingdom, whereat military and legislative matters, such as the promulgation of capitularies, predominated over judicial functions.
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 placita a year.
The presiding magistrate usually brought with him judges, notaries and scabini to address questions of law.