Aragonese Crusade Angevin invasion of Sicily The naval Battle of Les Formigues (Catalan) took place probably in the early morning of 4 September 1285 near Les Formigues Islands, Catalonia, about 85 km northeast of Barcelona, when a Catalan-Sicilian galley fleet commanded by Roger of Lauria[1] defeated a French and Genoese galley fleet commanded by Guilhem de Lodeva, Henry di Mari, and John de Orrea.
There are three almost completely different accounts of this battle: from Ramon Muntaner,[2] Bernard Desclot,[3] and the Gesta comitum Barchinonensium[4].
The Gesta places the battle at Les Formigues (or Fomigas), while Muntaner favoured a location off Roses to the north.
The accounts agree that it happened at night, which was unusual for medieval naval battles, but suited Lauria who was skilled at night-fighting.
[5] The troubadour Joan Esteve blamed treachery for the capture of the French admiral Guilhem.