From L. provincia "territory under Roman domination," usually explained as pro- "before" + vincere "to conquer".

A province is a basic regional land unit under the Roman system of land administration from the 4th Century BCE onwards, but falsely claimed of older provenance.

The word province comes from the Latin word provincia originally meaning “sphere of military action” of the Roman legions in their conquest and subjugation of other Italian civilizations. Prior to the capture of Sicily in 241 BCE, each province was managed by a magistrate, elected from the elite of Rome.

References:

• Canons of Sovereign Law - Article 53 Province