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He had already during his father's lifetime
distinguished himself by defeating Alexander II of
Epirus at Derdia and so saving Macedonia (circa
260). On his accession he had to face a coalition
which the two great leagues, usually rivals, the
Aetolian and Achaean, formed against the Macedonian
power. He succeeded in dealing this coalition severe
blows, wresting Boeotia from their alliance. The
revolution in Epirus, which substituted a republican
league for the monarchy, gravely weakened his
position.
Demetrius had also to defend Macedonia against the
wild peoples of the north. A battle with the
Dardanians turned out disastrously, and he died
shortly afterwards, leaving Philip, his son by
Chryseis, still a child.
Former wives of Demetrius were Stratonice, the
daughter of the Seleucid king Antiochus I, Phthia
the daughter of Alexander of Epirus, and Nicaea, the
widow of his cousin Alexander. The chronology of
these marriages is a matter of dispute.
This article incorporates text from the public
domain 1911 Encyclopędia Britannica.
- Preceded by: Antigonus II
- King of Macedon 239-–229 BC
- Succeeded by: Antigonus III
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