Villa Gotaha" was first mentioned in a document of the Frankish King Charlemagne in 775, making it one of the oldest settlements in Thuringia.
Gotha (opens in a new tab) has enjoyed city status since the 12th century and, thanks to its advantageous geographical location, developed into an important location for business, art and culture during this time. Important scientists and artists, such as the astronomer Xaver von Zach, the geologist Karl Ernst Adolf von Hoff and the composer Gottfried Heinrich, all had their roots in Gotha.
In the 16th century, the city was a stronghold of the Reformation, associated with the names of Martin Luther and Lukas Cranach.
An important political event also took place in Gotha: the merger of the workers' parties of Ferdinand Lassalle and August Bebel to form the "Socialist Workers' Party of Germany". The Gotha Program was created, a root of social democratic and socialist political leadership.
