Demetrius was the son of Antigonus I Cyclops, and the second member of the Antigonid dynasty. His father won a great region in Syria and Asia after the second Diodochi War. Several years later, however, all of the other diodochi (Lysimachus in Thrace, Ptolemy in Egypt, Seleucus, and Cassander in Macedonia) turned against him, and attacked his domains from every direction. As a young man, Demetrius fought for his father in Asia, during the Third and Forth Diodochi wars, which raged from 314 to 302 B.C. During this period Demetrius also led some campaigns into Greece, and 'liberated' Greece from the Macedonian Yoke. These established territory and allies for the Antigonid dynasty in Greece, but did not affect the outcome of the war in Asia.
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During the next several years, Demetrius made peace with Lysimachus and Seleucus. In 294 B.C. he again attempted to 'liberate' Greece. He established himself on the throne of Macedonia by murdering the son of Cassander, but his hold on the region was never secure. Pyrrhus of Epirus made many incursions into Greece, and eventually he was deposed by the united forces of Pyrrhus and Lysimachus. Still possessed of an army, he marched into Asia Minor to stir up trouble, but he wad defeated, captured and died in prison, three years later.
At the death of Demetrius, the Antigonid dynasty apparently ceased to exist. Within about fifteen years however, a complicated turn of events put Macedonia back into the hands of Antigonus II, the son of Demetrius. Macedonia was ruled by Antigonids for the next century and a half, until it was conquered by Rome.
Antigonus, the father of Demetrius, wins a great territory in Asia from his enemy Eumenes. | |
Led his fathers' forces in a crushing defeat at Gaza. Seleucus gained much territory. | |
Sailed to Athens with a large fleet in order to 'free' Greece from Macedonian domination. | |
Defeated the navy of the Ptolemies at the battle of Salamis-Cyrus. | |
Declared 'king' of his father's domains in Asia. | |
Returned to Greece. Continued to make allies and enemies in Macedonian territory. | |
Defeated at the Battle of Ipsus. Antigonus I. killed. Almost all eastern territory lost. | |
After murdering Cassander's heir, seized the throne of Macedonia. | |
Driven from Macedonia by Pyrrhus and Lysimachus. | |
Died in Prison. |
Wars in Macedon in | Pyrrhus by Jacob Abbott |
Golden Shoes and Two Crowns in | Tales of the Greeks: The Children's Plutarch by F. J. Gould |
Colossus of Rhodes in | The Story of the Greeks by H. A. Guerber |
Demetrius and the Athenians in | The Story of the Greeks by H. A. Guerber |
Demetrius in | Our Young Folks' Plutarch by Rosalie Kaufman |
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![]() Demetrius Poliorcetes in The Story of the Greeks |
Allied with Antipater and Ptolemy I in early Diadochi Wars. Won control of Asia Minor and Syria. | |
Bodyguard of Alexander. Took control of Thrace on his death. Engaged in Wars of Diadochi. | |
Son of a general of Alexander. Founded Seleucid Dynasty, in Syria and Central Asia. | |
General of Alexander, founded Egyptian Dynasty that lasted for 300 years. | |
Renowned general, won victories in Macedon, Italy, and Greece, but failed to follow up wins. | |
Son of Antipater. Wrestled control of Macedonia from Polyperchon. Enemy of Olympias. |