Until the end of the 18th century, the legal status of the Jews in Poland was determined by royal decrees known as “privileges”, issued mainly by Polish kings, dukes, and noblemen.
In 1766, Polish King Stanisław August Poniatowski reissued privileges for the Jews of Oświęcim, which were initially issued in 1633. He reestablished their rights of residence, trade, real estate rental, and use of their synagogue and cemetery.