Similar systems had been in place in the Roman Empire ever since the reign of Severus Alexander during the third century, when Roman soldiers and their heirs were granted lands on the condition of service to the Emperor.
Sistem serupa telah ada di Kekaisaran Romawi sejak masa pemerintahan Severus Alexander selama abad ketiga, ketika tentara Romawi dan ahli waris mereka diberikan tanah dengan syarat pelayanan kepada Kaisar.