roger de flor's offer was accepted by both byzantium and by the crown of aragon, rulers in sicily and southern italy, who were quite eager to rid themselves of unemployed and unruly soldiers. roger de flor departed with 39 galleys and transports carrying around 1,500 knights and 4,000 almogavars, special foot soldiers employed mainly serving the kingdom's interests in the mediterranean sea, especially from catalonia, valencia and aragon.