On September 4, 1285, the Catalan-Sicilian galley fleet, commanded by Roger of Lauria, defeated a French and Genoese fleet off the coast of Barcelona at the Battle of Les Formigues. This naval battle was part of the Aragonese Crusade, a French campaign to invade Aragon and support the Angevin claim to Sicily. Lauria's victory was a turning point in the war, effectively ending the French invasion and securing Aragonese dominance in the western Mediterranean.

The Battle of Les Formigues was a celebrated event in Catalan literature, commemorated in chronicles such as the Llibre dels feits and in epic poetry that glorified the naval prowess of Roger of Lauria. The battle became a symbol of Catalan resistance and maritime power, inspiring later works of Catalan and Spanish literature that emphasized national pride and military heroism. The event also contributed to the rich tradition of Mediterranean maritime poetry.