The existence of the town was first documented in 1124, when it was part of the
Duchy of Pomerania, which had been conquered by the Polish duke
Bolesław III Wrymouth. It was then visited by
Otto of Bamberg, who was entrusted by Bolesław III Wrymouth with the
Christianization of Western Pomerania. The name of the town derives from
Old-Polabian from the word * < *gordьcь, meaning "small fortified settlement". Following the
fragmentation of Poland in 1138 it was part of the separate
Duchy of Pomerania, which in 1227 fell under the overlordship of the multi-ethnic
Holy Roman Empire. In 1236, the castle was the seat of the local Slavic
castellan. In 1249 Gartz was granted
town privileges by
Duke Barnim I the Good. Because of its strategic location on the river, the town was frequently vulnerable during military campaigns. In 1284, it was one of the Pomeranian towns that guaranteed a peace treaty between the Duchy of Pomerania and the
Margraviate of Brandenburg. It was granted several
privileges by Pomeranian dukes in the following decades. During a Pomeranian succession war, in 1468, the town opened its gates to Brandenburgians, what was taken in other Pomeranian cities and towns as an act of treason. In 1473, the Duchy of Pomerania made an unsuccessful attempt to recapture the town, however in 1477, with the help of the cities of
Stargard and
Szczecin, Gartz was finally recaptured, which was confirmed in a subsequent peace treaty. ==Geography==