The naval Battle of Les Formigues (or Las Hormigas) took place probably in the early morning of 4 September 1285 near Las Hormigas, about 85kms north-east of Barcelona, when an Aragonese-Sicilian galley fleet commanded by Roger of Lauria defeated a French and Genoese galley fleet commanded by Henry di Mari and John de Orreo. The Aragonese Crusade or Crusade of Aragón was declared by Pope Martin IV against the king of Aragón, Peter III the Great, in 1284 and 1285. ... September 4 is the 247th day of the year (248th in leap years). ... For broader historical context, see 1280s and 13th century. ... Location Coordinates : Time Zone : CET (GMT +1) - summer: CEST (GMT +2) General information Native name Barcelona (Catalan) Spanish name Barcelona Nickname Ciutat Comtal (Catalan) Ciudad Condal (Spanish) Postal code 08001-08080 Area code 34 (Spain) + 93 (Barcelona) Website http://www. ... King of Aragons arms in 15th century The Crown of Aragon or Aragonese Empire was the regime of a large portion of what is now Spain, plus numerous Mediterranean possessions, for much of the later Middle Ages. ... Genoa (Genova in Italian - Zena in Genoese) is a city and a seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria. ... Roger of Lauria Roger of Lauria, or Ruggero di Lauria (c. ... September 4 is the 247th day of the year (248th in leap years). ... For broader historical context, see 1280s and 13th century. ... Location Coordinates : Time Zone : CET (GMT +1) - summer: CEST (GMT +2) General information Native name Barcelona (Catalan) Spanish name Barcelona Nickname Ciutat Comtal (Catalan) Ciudad Condal (Spanish) Postal code 08001-08080 Area code 34 (Spain) + 93 (Barcelona) Website http://www. ... A French galley and Dutch men-of-war off a port by Abraham Willaerts, painted 17th century. ... Roger of Lauria Roger of Lauria, or Ruggero di Lauria (c. ...

There are 3 almost completely different accounts of this battle. Either Lauria or the French were ashore for the night and encountered by the other, or they were both at sea when the encounter took place. The accounts agree that it happened at night, which was unusual for Medieval naval battles, but suited Lauria who was skilled at night-fighting. He used 2 lanterns on each galley to increase his apparent numbers. 10-16 Genoese galleys under John de Orreo fled, leaving about 15-20 French galleys to be captured, and some others sunk or burnt. A little later Lauria destroyed a French fleet of ships and galleys to the north at Rosas.

Ships involved:

Sicily and Catalonia (Roger of Lauria)

about 30 Sicilan galleys
about 10 Catalan galleys

France and Genoa (di Mari and de Orreo)

about 30 galleys - 15-20 captured, some sunk or burnt