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The
King Defends Jews of Barcelona
The Black Death,
an outbreak of bubonic plague that swept Europe in 1348-49, is thought
to have killed as much as a third of Europe's population. The death
toll left people demoralized and frightened. Seeking an explanation
for this disaster, many blamed it on the Jews.
As the Black Death spread, it was accompanied by anti-Jewish
riots. Sometimes, as indicated in this letter written by King
Peter IV of Aragon, local governments took steps to protect the
Jews.
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Through the information supplied to us by the Jews of the
aljama
of the aforementioned city [Barcelona], we have learned
that recently, when the populace of the aforesaid city had
been aroused, certain men of that city, indifferent to the
sting of our punishment, invaded the Jewish quarter and
there killed several of the Jews of the aforesaid aljama.
We have learned that you [the municipal authorities], zealous
for justice and our honor, lest further damage be done to
the aforesaid Jews, caused the aforesaid quarter to be carefully
protected through personal intervention and through proper
guards.
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