executed over the duo's refusal to relinquish control of the colony. The act was deemed an illegal execution, and Spanish crown forces tried and executed Carvajal for the crime. Subsequently, Charles V revoked Welser's charter.

The Welsers transported German miners to the colony, as well as 4,000 African slaves as labour to work sugar cane plantations. Many of the German colonists died from tropical diseases, to which they had no immunity, or during frequent wars with Native Americans.