A few 2,000 neighbors of the Cordoban town of La Carlota bear foreign names, especially German: Chofle (from Schöffer), Ots, Hens, Wic, Hermán… Their ancestors were central Europeans recruited in the 18th century, under the reign of Charles IIIto repopulate these lands and others that were on the royal road that linked Andalusia to Madrid, and which were prey to bandits and criminals.
The colonization process began in 1767 and its main architect was the Bavarian Empire. Johann Kaspar Thürriegelhired by the Royal Court to bring 6,000 emigrants, of whom around 1,600 would found the current commune of Carlota. Received 326 reais for each new inhabitant recruited, in addition to his appointment as colonel of the Spanish armies.
As for those who dared to pack their bags to settle in Córdoba, they received very juicy incentives, such as 56 bushels of landtools, seeds, certain farm and household animals, as well as total tax exemption for ten years.
Central European heritage
In July 1767, the regulations to be applied were drawn up, within the framework of a Population Lawwhich details the special rights of the colonies. A month later the first settlers began to arrive, first settling in the lands of the Sierra Morena, although later other more western areas of the Andalusian community were added.
From this heritage have remained not only family names and German blood, but also numerous works from the time of Charles III, such as the town hall, the oldest cemetery in the province of Córdoba or the city itself. even. orthogonal village designwhose islets revolve around the old royal road.
