Aragonese Crusade Angevin invasion of Sicily The Battle of the Counts was a naval engagement during the War of the Sicilian Vespers.

Following the outbreak of the War of the Sicilian Vespers in 1282, naval warfare raged between the Crown of Aragon and the Angevin Kingdom of Naples.

[1] In the early years of the conflict, a combined Aragonese-Sicilian fleet inflicted a series of defeats on the navy of Angevin Naples, which was forced to abandon Sicily in 1282.

These victories had established Aragon as a major naval power in the region and had resulted in serious damaged being done to the Angevin-Neapolitan navy's ability to operate effectively.

Roger of Lauria arrived in Messina in the spring of 1287 and began work to quickly replenish the Aragonese fleet stationed there.

[2] Having lost its king and its fleet in the disastrous battle in the gulf of Naples in 1284, the Angevin kingdom began an aggressive campaign to rebuild its navy.

Striking first at Malta (possibly a feint to distract the Aragonese), the Angevin fleet then sailed to and captured the town of Augusta on Sicily.

[2] While the Aragonese were forced to besiege Augusta, the Angevin fleet sailed to attack the poorly-defended western coast of Sicily.

[2] The Angevin fleet numbered some 84 galleys, 12 of which were a squadron Genoese mercenary ships commanded by Enrico de Mari.

While Lauria's forces waited in the gulf, Narjot organized his ships into diamond-like phalanxes, advancing together to try to break the Aragonese line.