By 1807, the town had become part of Napoleon's empire although it had communal autonomy.
They were allowed to "practice their religion, subject to certain conditions, and to enjoy a measure of communal autonomy."
Later the city started to grow again with the foundation of another burgh, the Civitas Nova, and with the communal autonomy.
Jews are granted a measure of communal autonomy, and Jewish communities grow across the country from the 13th century.
The charter abolished communal autonomy whereby the Jews controlled their internal affairs; it promoted Germanization and the wearing of non-Jewish clothing.
In this context, "Jewish communal autonomy became an integral part of the Polish political system.
These privileges guaranteed that they could maintain communal autonomy, live according to their laws, and be subjected directly to the royal jurisdiction in matters concerning Jews and Christians.
In 1926 the ancient institution of communal autonomy was abolished.
It was the cities, now, that instituted reeves to manage the administration, but this only sometimes and slowly led to a restriction of the communal autonomy of the villages.
In 1934 Beckendorf was renamed Weiherhammer and received communal autonomy in 1952.