• If the donee’s issue fail in that time, the land returns to the donor. A donor who accepted homage (and the corresponding services arising from it) from the donee risked losing control of the land to a collateral heir. After three generations — a time considered sufficient to demonstrate that the line was well established — the donee’s heir could insist on paying homage; doing so transformed the estate into a fee simple.
— Also termed liberum maritagium. See MARITAGIUM.