In the early

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

, a (

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

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.Mathieu Arnoux, "Placitum", in André Vauchez (ed.), ''Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages'' (James Clarke & Co, 2002; Oxford Reference Online, 2005). 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 Hincmar (; ; ; 806 – 21 December 882), archbishop of Reims, was a Frankish jurist and theologian, as well as the friend, advisor and propagandist of Charles the Bald. He belonged to a noble family of northern Francia. Biography Early life Hincm ...

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

viscount A viscount ( , for male) or viscountess (, for female) is a title used in certain European countries for a noble of varying status. The status and any domain held by a viscount is a viscounty. In the case of French viscounts, the title is ...

s) 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. The public 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 the survived down to the end of the Middle Ages, while the tradition of the was continued in the estates general and the estates provincial.

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