All over Europe, medieval people depended to a great extent on their lords. In 13th and 14th-century Saaremaa, most peasants were personally free, but a large proportion of them did not own their own land. Most of the lords in Saaremaa of that time were still members of the local elite.
It is known from Ösel-Wiek peasant law that peasants could switch to a different lord, but the peasant first had to pay off all his debts. The peasant could take all his moveable property with him, including animals. He had to take everything away over the course of three days.
Keskaja inimesed sõltusid kõikjal Euroopas suuresti oma isandast. 13.–14. sajandi Saaremaal olid talupojad isiklikult vabad, kuid suurel osal neist ei olnud oma maad. Tolle aja Saaremaal oli enamus isandaid veel kohalikku päritolu ülikud.
Saare–Lääne talupojaõigusest on teada, et talupoeg võis minna teise isanda alluvusse, kuid pidi enne seda õiendama kõik oma võlad. Kaasa võis võtta kogu liikuva vara, sealhulgas loomad, mis tuli kõik ära viia kolme päeva jooksul.