Gützkow (German pronunciation: [ˈɡʏt͡sˌkoː] ) is a town in the District of Vorpommern-Greifswald in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, in north-eastern Germany. It is situated some 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south of Greifswald, on the north bank of the River Peene. Gützkow was the central town of the medieval County of Gützkow.

Gützkow
Town hall of Gützkow
Town hall of Gützkow
Flag of Gützkow
Coat of arms of Gützkow
Location of Gützkow within Vorpommern-Greifswald district
Gützkow is located in Germany
Gützkow
Gützkow
Gützkow is located in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Gützkow
Gützkow
Coordinates: 53°57′N 13°25′E / 53.950°N 13.417°E / 53.950; 13.417
CountryGermany
StateMecklenburg-Vorpommern
DistrictVorpommern-Greifswald
Municipal assoc.Züssow
Government
 • MayorJutta Dinse
Area
 • Total
57.29 km2 (22.12 sq mi)
Elevation
12 m (39 ft)
Population
 (2023-12-31)[1]
 • Total
2,955
 • Density52/km2 (130/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
17506
Dialling codes038353
Vehicle registrationVG
Websiteguetzkow.de

Etymology

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The name Gützkow is derived from the Slavic Old Polabian language, as is the case of most toponyms in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The oldest records of the name are 1128 as "Gozgauia", 1140 Chozcho, 1163 Gozkowe, 1175 Gotzchowe, 1183 Chozkowe, 1207 Gotzkowe, 1214 Chozcowe, 1228 Gutzkowe and are derived from Polabian Gost = German Gast[2] (English "guest"), the town having had a temple, to which many guests traveled. The assumption of a person named Chockov (place of Chocek, Chocek as name-giver) is not based on facts.

Other historical earliest historical names include Gokecowe, Gotzekowe and Gotzkovborg.[2]

History

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17th-century view of the town

In 1128, it became a part of the Duchy of Pomerania,[2] a vassal duchy of Poland, then ruled by Bolesław III Wrymouth, who initiated Christianization, entrusting this task to Otto of Bamberg.[3] A church was established in 1140.[4] The town was raided by King Valdemar I of Denmark in 1163 and 1177.[5] Around 1189 the town passed to the Principality of Rügen, a vassal of Denmark, and around 1216 it returned to the Duchy of Pomerania.[6]

Following the Thirty Years' War it became part of Sweden, and in 1815 it passed to Kingdom of Prussia.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Bevölkerungsstand der Kreise, Ämter und Gemeinden 2023" (XLS) (in German). Statistisches Amt Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "www.guetzkow.de". Archived from the original on 2013-06-30. Retrieved 2013-05-29.
  3. ^ Medley, D. J. (2004). The church and the empire. Kessinger Publishing. p. 152.
  4. ^ Labuda, Gerard (1993). "Chrystianizacja Pomorza (X–XIII stulecie)". Studia Gdańskie (in Polish). Vol. IX. Gdańsk-Oliwa. p. 52.
  5. ^ Kratz, Gustav (1865). Die Städte der Provinz Pommern. Abriss ihrer Geschichte, zumeist nach Urkunden (in German). Berlin. p. 230.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. ^ Kratz, pp. 230–231