Gericht Gartow

Amt Schnakenburg

A castle was built in Schnakenburg in the early 13th century and it became the seat of an administrative subdivision of the Margraviate of Brandenburg. It was acquired by the Welfs around 1390 and assigned to the Principality of Lüneburg in 1409, but Brandenburg disputed sovereignty for centuries.

 

Gartow was also the home of a castle that was a subject of dispute between Brandenburg and Lüneburg. After 1438, its territory functioned as a quasi-independent nobel estate within Brandenburg, but Lüneburg considered it to be part of Amt Schnakenburg—a claim that I recognize beginning in 1527 when the data base starts.

 

In 1694, Gartow was purchased by a Lüneburg administrator, who continued to run it as a nobel estate, although I continue to recognize it as part of Amt Schnakenburg. In 1720, however, Gericht Gartow was established as a formal subdivision of the Principality of Lüneburg, consisting of Amt Schnakenburg (except for the town itself) and portions of several parishes that were transfered from Amt Lüchow.