The abbey was founded by the Pomeranian duke Ratibor I and his wife, Pribislawa, in the course of the conversion of Pomerania to Christianity. The exact foundation date is uncertain, but it is assumed that it was about 1155, after the foundation of Stolpe Abbey in 1153 and before Ratibor's death. The first written record is the confirmation of the abbey by the Pomeranian bishop Adalbert of 8 June 1159, which at the same time is the oldest known Pomeranian document.