 The former village was situated around the church of St Martin and, when first mentioned, was part of the Duchy of Franconia.The town of Großbottwar was probably founded in the mid-13th century, very near the former village, and first described as a city in 1279.An alliance of three noble families of the area founded the town, the Swabian family , the Swabian and Austrian family Hoheneck, and the owners of the nearby Lichtenberg Castle, bearing its name.