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Demetrius I of Macedon

 
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Demetrius I (Greek
Greek language

Greek is an Indo-European languages native to the southern Balkan peninsula, the language of the Greek people. It forms an independent branch within Indo-European....
: ??΅?t???? ?`, 337-283 BC), called Poliorcetes (Greek
Greek language

Greek is an Indo-European languages native to the southern Balkan peninsula, the language of the Greek people. It forms an independent branch within Indo-European....
: ????????t?? - "The Besieger"), son of Antigonus I Monophthalmus
Antigonus I Monophthalmus

Antigonus I Monophthalmus son of Philip from Elimiotis, was a Macedonian nobleman, general, and satrap under Alexander the Great. He was a major figure in the Wars of the Diadochi after Alexander's death, declaring himself king in 306 BC and establishing the Antigonid dynasty....
 and Stratonice
Stratonice (wife of Antigonus)

Stratonice was daughter of Corrhaeus , and wife of Antigonus I Monophthalmus, king of Asia, by whom she became the mother of two sons, Demetrius I of Macedon and Philip , who died in 306 BC....
, was a king of Macedon
Macedon

Macedon or Macedonia was the name of a monarchy centred in the northernmost part of ancient Greece. The homeland of the ancient Macedonians, it was bordered by the kingdom of Epirus to the west and the region of Thrace to the east....
 (294–288 BC). He belonged to the Antigonid dynasty
Antigonid dynasty

The Antigonid dynasty was a dynasty of Hellenistic kings descended from Alexander the Great general Antigonus I Monophthalmus .History...
.

he age of twenty-two he was left by his father to defend Syria
Syria

Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is an Arab-majority country in Southwest Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Israel to the southwest, Jordan to the south, Iraq to the east, and Turkey to the north....
 against Ptolemy the son of Lagus
Lagus

Lagus from Eordaea was the father, or reputed father, of Ptolemy I Soter, the founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty. He married Arsinoe of Macedonia, a concubine of Philip II of Macedon, king of Macedon, who was said to have been pregnant at the time of their marriage, on which account it is told that the Macedonians generally looked upon Ptolemy...
; he was totally defeated in Battle of Gaza
Battle of Gaza (312 BC)

The Battle of Gaza was a battle of the Diadochi#Third War of the Diadochi, 314-311 BC between Ptolemy I of Egypt and Demetrius I of Macedon ....
, but soon partially repaired his loss by a victory in the neighbourhood of Myus
Myus

Myus, Caria was an ancient city-state and was one of twelve major settlements formed in the Ionian Confederation, called the Ionian League. The city was said to have been founded by Cyaretus , a son of Codrus....
.






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Demetrius I (Greek
Greek language

Greek is an Indo-European languages native to the southern Balkan peninsula, the language of the Greek people. It forms an independent branch within Indo-European....
: ??΅?t???? ?`, 337-283 BC), called Poliorcetes (Greek
Greek language

Greek is an Indo-European languages native to the southern Balkan peninsula, the language of the Greek people. It forms an independent branch within Indo-European....
: ????????t?? - "The Besieger"), son of Antigonus I Monophthalmus
Antigonus I Monophthalmus

Antigonus I Monophthalmus son of Philip from Elimiotis, was a Macedonian nobleman, general, and satrap under Alexander the Great. He was a major figure in the Wars of the Diadochi after Alexander's death, declaring himself king in 306 BC and establishing the Antigonid dynasty....
 and Stratonice
Stratonice (wife of Antigonus)

Stratonice was daughter of Corrhaeus , and wife of Antigonus I Monophthalmus, king of Asia, by whom she became the mother of two sons, Demetrius I of Macedon and Philip , who died in 306 BC....
, was a king of Macedon
Macedon

Macedon or Macedonia was the name of a monarchy centred in the northernmost part of ancient Greece. The homeland of the ancient Macedonians, it was bordered by the kingdom of Epirus to the west and the region of Thrace to the east....
 (294–288 BC). He belonged to the Antigonid dynasty
Antigonid dynasty

The Antigonid dynasty was a dynasty of Hellenistic kings descended from Alexander the Great general Antigonus I Monophthalmus .History...
.

Biography

At the age of twenty-two he was left by his father to defend Syria
Syria

Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is an Arab-majority country in Southwest Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Israel to the southwest, Jordan to the south, Iraq to the east, and Turkey to the north....
 against Ptolemy the son of Lagus
Lagus

Lagus from Eordaea was the father, or reputed father, of Ptolemy I Soter, the founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty. He married Arsinoe of Macedonia, a concubine of Philip II of Macedon, king of Macedon, who was said to have been pregnant at the time of their marriage, on which account it is told that the Macedonians generally looked upon Ptolemy...
; he was totally defeated in Battle of Gaza
Battle of Gaza (312 BC)

The Battle of Gaza was a battle of the Diadochi#Third War of the Diadochi, 314-311 BC between Ptolemy I of Egypt and Demetrius I of Macedon ....
, but soon partially repaired his loss by a victory in the neighbourhood of Myus
Myus

Myus, Caria was an ancient city-state and was one of twelve major settlements formed in the Ionian Confederation, called the Ionian League. The city was said to have been founded by Cyaretus , a son of Codrus....
. In the spring of 310, he was soundly defeated when he tried to expel Seleucus I Nicator
Seleucus I Nicator

Seleucus I , was a Ancient Macedonians officer of Alexander the Great. In the Wars of the Diadochi that took place after Alexander's death, Seleucus established the Seleucid dynasty and the Seleucid Empire....
 from Babylon
Babylon

Babylon was a city-state of ancient Mesopotamia, sometimes considered an empire, the remains of which can be found in present-day Al Hillah, Babil Governorate, Iraq, about 85 kilometers south of Baghdad....
; his father was defeated in the autumn. As a result of this Babylonian War
Babylonian War

The Babylonian War was a conflict fought between 311-309 BC between the Diadochi kings Antigonus Monophthalmus and Seleucus I Nicator, ending in a victory for the latter....
, Antigonus lost almost two thirds of his empire: all eastern satrapies became Seleucus'.

After several campaigns against Ptolemy on the coasts of Cilicia
Cilicia

In antiquity, Cilicia now known as ?ukurova, was a commonly used name of the south coastal region of the Anatolian peninsula, and a political entity in Roman times....
 and Cyprus
Cyprus

Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is an island country situated in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, east of Greece, west of Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, south of Turkey and north of Egypt....
, Demetrius sailed with a fleet of 250 ships to Athens
Athens

Athens , the Capital and largest city of Greece, dominates the Attica periphery; as one of the List of cities by time of continuous habitation, its recorded history spans around 3,400 years....
. He freed the city from the power of Cassander
Cassander

Cassander , King of Macedon , was a son of Antipater, and founder of the short-lived Antipatrid dynasty....
 and Ptolemy, expelled the garrison which had been stationed there under Demetrius of Phalerum, and besieged and took Munychia (307 BC). After these victories he was worshipped by the Athenians as a tutelary
Tutelary

A tutelary spiritual being or patron deity serves as the guardian of, or an entity to watch over and protect, a particular site, person, culture, or nation....
 deity under the title of Soter (s?t??) ("Preserver").

In the campaign of 306 BC against Ptolemy he defeated Menelaus
Menelaus (general)

Menelaus was son of Lagus and brother of Ptolemy I Soter, king of Ptolemaic Egypt. His name does not occur among the officers or generals of Alexander the Great during the lifetime of that monarch, though it is incidentally mentioned by Phylarchus in terms that would seem to imply that he then already occupied a distinguished position....
, Ptolemy's brother, in the naval Battle of Salamis
Battle of Salamis in Cyprus (306 BC)

The naval Battle of Salamis took place in 306 BC near Salamis, Cyprus between the fleets of Ptolemy I of Egypt and Demetrius I of Macedon, two of the diadochi, the successors to Alexander the Great....
, completely destroying the naval power of Egypt
Egypt

Egypt is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Western Asia. Covering an area of about , Egypt borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west....
. In 305 BC, now bearing the title of king bestowed upon him by his father, he endeavoured to punish the Rhodians
Rhodes

Rhodes is a Greece List of islands of Greece approximately southwest of Turkey in eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007 of which 53,709 resided in the Rhodes capital city of the island....
 for having deserted his cause; his ingenuity in devising new siege engines in his unsuccessful attempt to reduce the capital gained him the title of Poliorcetes. Among his creations were a battering ram
Battering ram

A battering ram is a siege engine originating in ancient history to break open fortification walls or doors.In its simplest form, a battering ram is just a large, heavy log carried by several people and propelled with force against an obstacle; the momentum of the ram would be sufficient to damage the target if the log were massive enough a...
  long, requiring 1000 men to operate it; and a wheeled siege tower
Siege tower

A siege tower is a specialized siege engine, constructed to protect assailants and ladders while approaching the defensive walls of a fortification....
 named "Helepolis
Helepolis

Helepolis was an ancient siege engine invented by Polyidus of Thessaly and improved by Demetrius I of Macedon and Epimachus of Athens for the unsuccessful siege of Rhodes , based on an earlier, less massive design used against Salamis ....
" (or "Taker of Cities") which stood tall and wide, weighing 360,000 pounds. In 302 BC he returned a second time to Greece as liberator, and reinstated the Corinthian League. But his licentiousness and extravagance made the Athenians long for the government of Cassander. Among his outrages was his courtship of a young boy named Democles the Handsome. The youth kept on refusing his attention but one day found himself cornered at the baths. Having no way out and being unable to physically resist his suitor, he took the lid off the hot water cauldron and jumped in. His death is seen as a mark of honor for himself and his country. In another instance, he waived a fine of 50 talents imposed on a citizen in exchange for the favors of Cleaenetus, that man's son. He also sought the attention of Lamia, a Greek courtesan. She demanded a price of 250 talents. He put a tax on soap to raise the money.

He also roused the jealousy of Alexander
Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great , also known as Alexander III of Macedon was an ancient Greeks King of Macedon . He was one of the most successful military commanders of all time and is presumed undefeated in battle....
's Diadochi
Diadochi

The Diadochi were the rival successors of Alexander the Great, and their Wars of the Diadochi followed Alexander's death. This was the beginning of the Hellenistic period of Greek history, the time when many people who were not Greek themselves adopted Greek philosophy and styles, Greek urban life, and aspects of the Greek religion....
; Seleucus
Seleucus I Nicator

Seleucus I , was a Ancient Macedonians officer of Alexander the Great. In the Wars of the Diadochi that took place after Alexander's death, Seleucus established the Seleucid dynasty and the Seleucid Empire....
, Cassander and Lysimachus
Lysimachus

Lysimachus was a Macedonian officer and Diadochi of Alexander the Great, who became a basileus in 306 BCE, ruling Thrace, Anatolia andMacedonia....
 united to destroy him and his father. The hostile armies met at the Ipsus
Battle of Ipsus

The Battle of Ipsus was fought between some of the Diadochi in 301 BC near the village of that name in Phrygia. Antigonus I Monophthalmus and his son Demetrius I of Macedon were pitted against the coalition of three other companions of Alexander: Cassander, ruler of Macedon; Lysimachus, ruler of Thrace; and Seleucus I Nicator, ruler of Babyl...
 in Phrygia
Phrygia

In antiquity, Phrygia was a kingdom in the west central part of Anatolia, in what is now modern-day Turkey. The Phrygians initially lived in the Southern Balkans; according to Herodotus, under the name of Bryges, changing it to Phruges after their final migration to Anatolia, via the Hellespont....
 (301 BC). Antigonus was killed, and Demetrius, after sustaining severe losses, retired to Ephesus
Ephesus

Ephesus was an ancient Greek city on the west coast of Anatolia, in the region known as Ionia during the period known as Classical Greece. It was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League....
. This reversal of fortune stirred up many enemies against him—the Athenians refused even to admit him into their city. But he soon afterwards ravaged the territory of Lysimachus
Lysimachus

Lysimachus was a Macedonian officer and Diadochi of Alexander the Great, who became a basileus in 306 BCE, ruling Thrace, Anatolia andMacedonia....
 and effected a reconciliation with Seleucus, to whom he gave his daughter Stratonice
Stratonice of Syria

Stratonice of Syria was the daughter of king Demetrius I of Macedon and Phila of Macedonia, the daughter of Antipater. In 300 BC, at which time she could not have been more than seventeen years of age, her hand was solicited by Seleucus I Nicator, king of Seleucid Empire, and she was conducted by her father Demetrius to Rhosus, on the Piere...
 in marriage. Athens was at this time oppressed by the tyranny of Lachares - a popular leader who made himself supreme in Athens in 296 BC - but Demetrius, after a protracted blockade, gained possession of the city (294 BC) and pardoned the inhabitants for their misconduct in 301.

In the same year he established himself on the throne of Macedonia by murdering Alexander V
Alexander V of Macedon

Alexander V of Macedon , was the third and youngest son of Cassander and Thessalonica of Macedon, who was a half-sister of Alexander the Great. He ruled as King of Macedon along with his brother Antipater II of Macedon from 297 to 294 BC....
, the son of Cassander. But his new position was continually threatened by Pyrrhus
Pyrrhus of Epirus

Pyrrhus or Pyrrhos was a Greeks general of the Hellenistic civilization. He was king of the Greek tribe of Molossians, of the royal Aeacid house , and later he became King of Epirus and Macedon ....
, who took advantage of his occasional absence to ravage the defenceless part of his kingdom (Plutarch
Plutarch

Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus , c. AD 46 ? 120 ? commonly known in English as Plutarch ? was a Ancient Rome historian , biographer, essayist, and Middle Platonism....
, Pyrrhus, 7 if.); at length, the combined forces of Pyrrhus, Ptolemy and Lysimachus, assisted by the disaffected among his own subjects, obliged him to leave Macedonia in 288 BC.

He passed into Asia and attacked some of the provinces of Lysimachus with varying success. Famine and pestilence destroyed the greater part of his army, and he solicited Seleucus' support and assistance. But before he reached Syria hostilities broke out, and after he had gained some advantages over his son-in-law, Demetrius was totally forsaken by his troops on the field of battle and surrendered to Seleucus.

His son Antigonus offered all his possessions, and even his own person, in order to procure his father's liberty. But all proved unavailing, and Demetrius died after a confinement of three years (283 BC). His remains were given to Antigonus and honoured with a splendid funeral at Corinth.

His descendants remained in possession of the Macedonian throne till the time of Perseus
Perseus of Macedon

File:Perseus_of_Macedon BM.jpgPerseus was the last king of the Antigonid dynasty, who ruled the successor state in Macedon created upon the death of Alexander the Great....
, when Macedon was conquered by the Romans
Roman Republic

The Roman Republic was the phase of the Ancient Rome characterized by a republican form of government; a period which began with the overthrow of the Roman Roman Kingdom, c....
 in 168 BC.

Literary references


Demetrius appears (under the Greek form of his name, Demetrios) in L. Sprague de Camp
L. Sprague de Camp

Lyon Sprague de Camp, was an USA science fiction authors and fantasy authors and biographer. In a writing career spanning sixty years he wrote over one hundred books, including novels and notable works of nonfiction, such as biographies of other important fantasy authors....
's historical novel, The Bronze God of Rhodes
The Bronze God of Rhodes

The Bronze God of Rhodes is an historical novel by L. Sprague de Camp, first published in hardcover by Doubleday in 1960, and in paperback by Bantam Books in 1963....
, which largely concerns itself with his siege of Rhodes.

Alfred Duggan's novel Elephants and Castles provides a lively fictionalised account of his life.

Sources


Ancient sources

  • Plutarch
    Plutarch

    Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus , c. AD 46 ? 120 ? commonly known in English as Plutarch ? was a Ancient Rome historian , biographer, essayist, and Middle Platonism....
    ,
  • Diodorus Siculus
    Diodorus Siculus

    Diodorus Siculus , was a Roman Greece historian who flourished in the 1st century BC. According to Diodorus' own work, he was born at Agira in Sicily ....
    , , books 19–21
  • Polyaenus
    Polyaenus

    Polyaenus or Polyenus was a 2nd century Macedonian author, known best for his Stratagems in War , which has been preserved. The Suda calls him a rhetorician, and Polyaenus himself writes that he was accustomed to plead causes before the emperor....
    ,
  • Justin, , books 15–16
  • Athenaeus
    Athenaeus

    Athenaeus , of Naucratis in Egypt, Greeks rhetorician and grammarian, flourished about the end of the 2nd and beginning of the 3rd century A.D. The Suda only tells us that he lived in the times of Marcus ; but the contempt with which he speaks of Commodus shows that he survived that emperor....
    ,


Modern sources

  • R. M. Errington, A History of the Hellenistic World, pp. 33–58. Blackwell Publishing (2008). ISBN 978-0-631-23388-6.


See also

  • Winged Victory of Samothrace
    Winged Victory of Samothrace

    The Winged Victory of Samothrace, also called the Nike of Samothrace, is a third century B.C. marble Marble sculpture of the Greek mythology goddess Nike ....