When the Kamakura bakufu was established, gokenin played, for the Kamakura-dono, the economical roles as samurai, called Kanto-mikuji, in addition to the services of military roles, such as military roles in emergency, the Oban-yaku role for guarding the imperial court and bakufu, the Ikoku keigo ban-yaku role (the role for guarding against attacks from foreign countries) and the Nagato keigo ban-yaku role (also the role for guarding against attacks from foreign countries at a station placed in Nagato, present Yamaguchi Prefecture).
鎌倉幕府が成立すると、御家人は鎌倉殿に対して、緊急時の軍役、内裏や幕府を警護する大番役、その他異国警護番役や長門警護番役などの軍役奉仕のほか、関東御公事と言われる武家役を果たした。