Aragonese Crusade Angevin invasion of Sicily The naval Battle of Cape Orlando took place on 4 July 1299 at St Marco di Val Demone, north-western Sicily, when an Aragonese and Angevin galley fleet commanded by Roger of Lauria defeated a Sicilian galley fleet commanded by Conrad d'Oria.
[1] However, he learned his enemy, Frederick III of Sicily, had put 40 galleys to sea in an attempt to intercept the invading force.
[2] Aware that the Sicilian fleet was not far off, James disembarked his stores, horses, and sick at Cape Orlando and transferred infantrymen from his transport ships to his fighting galleys.
Frederick delayed his fleet at sea, awaiting the arrival of an additional 8 vessels from Cefalu, some 40 miles away, and in doing so, lost the element of surprise.
[6] Despite the battle wiping out the Sicilian defense fleet and leaving the island open to invasion, James did not make use of his good fortune.