In 1818, two German settlements were established in the south Caucasus: Katharinenfeld, today known as Bolnisi in Georgia, and Elizavetpol, today the town of Ganja in Azerbaijan. Due to the poor soil and drinking water quality at the original site, the settlement was moved already in 1819 to the location where Bolnisi is today. The settlers named their community in honour of Katharina, Queen of Württemberg. In August 1826, there was an incursion of Kurdish, Persian and Turkish raiders into Katharinenfeld. Many of the inhabitants were killed or abducted and their houses burnt to the ground. However, with substantial material and financial support from
the state, the settlement was able to recover quickly.