As a result of growing antisemitic preaching and anti-Jewish sentiment gaining popularity throughout the Iberian Pennisula, life for Jewish communities became increasing more difficult. Even more so after the Black Plague as the Jewish community was an easy target for blame. This came to a boiling point in 1391 when Fernando de Ecija from Seville made fanatical sermons against the Jews. Coinciding with an economic crisis, crop failure, this preaching enticed a violent mob who brutally attacked the Jewish community of Seville, one of the largest Jewish communities in the peninsula at the time. This violence spread through the peninsula, attacking Jewish communities along the way, reaching Catalunya a few months later. On August 5, 1391, an angry mob arrived in Barcelona and, inciting local citizens to join, jointly attacked the community over a series of days, causing the death of several hundred and waves of forced conversion. Many Jews fled to find safety. If you look up, you can see the remains of a watch tower, once connected to Castel Nou. Royal officers posted there were officially supposed to protect the Jewish community at time of attack, however many were away on Royal service during this time.