Demetrius II Aetolicus

For the similarly named Seleucid ruler see Demetrius II Nicator. For the Macedonian prince, see Demetrius the Fair.

Demetrius II Aetolicus (Greek: Δημήτριος ὁ Αἰτωλικός) son of Antigonus Gonatas and Phila, reigned as king of Macedonia from the winter of 239 to 229 BC.[1] He belonged to the Antigonid dynasty and was born in 275 BC.[2]

He had already during his father's lifetime distinguished himself by defeating Alexander II of Epirus at Derdia and so saving Macedonia (c. 260 BC). There is a possibility[3] that his father had already elevated him to position of power equal to his own before his death. If this had occurred it would be dated at 256 or 257 BC.

On his accession Demetrius had to face a coalition of enemies which included the two great leagues. Usually rivals, the Aetolian League and Achaean League, now became allies 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.

During his reign his kingdom extended[4] to Euboea, Magnesia, Thessaly and its environs, excluding Dolopia and possibly Peparethos and Phthiotic Achaia.

In 236 BC, he invaded Boetia, making the Boetians submit[5] immediately.

In 234 BC due to the Federal Republic[6] replacing the monarchy in Epirus led to the events of 231 BC, Demetrius hired[7] Agron for military aid against advancing Aetolians. His kingdom was not[8] threatened by the Illyrian Ardiaei ruled by Agron despite them having gathered the greatest force in their history (around 231 BC), but Epirus needed some sort of force to deter them.

Demetrius in the end of his reign defended his domain from the tribal peoples of the north. A battle with the Dardanians[9] turned out disastrously, and he died shortly afterwards, leaving Philip, his son by Chryseis, still a child.

Former wives of Demetrius were Stratonice of Macedon, the daughter of the Seleucid king Antiochus I, Phthia (239 BC)[10] the daughter of Alexander II of Epirus, and Nicaea, the widow of his cousin Alexander. The chronology of these marriages is a matter of dispute. From his marriage to Stratonice, he had a daughter called Apama III.[11]

Information[12] regarding the life of Demetrius are drawn mainly from inscription as only Plutarch writes of him, in Life of Aratus, and Polybius[13] makes scarce mentions of him.

Notes

  1. ↑ A History of Macedonia: 336-167 B.C. By Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière Hammond, Frank William Walbank, 1988, ISBN 0198148151, p. 317
  2. ↑ A History of Macedonia: 336-167 B.C. by Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière Hammond, Frank William Walbank, 1988, ISBN 0198148151, p. 317
  3. ↑ A History of Macedonia: 336-167 B.C. By Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière Hammond, Frank William Walbank, 1988, ISBN 0198148151, p. 317
  4. ↑ A History of Macedonia: 336-167 B.C By Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière Hammond, Frank William Walbank, 1988, ISBN 0198148151, p. 321
  5. ↑ A History of Macedonia: 336-167 B.C. By Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière Hammond, Frank William Walbank, 1988, ISBN 0198148151, p. 326
  6. ↑ The Illyrians by J. J. Wilkes, 1992, ISBN 0-631-19807-5, p. 157
  7. ↑ The Cambridge Ancient History, Tome 7, Part 1, by Frank William Walbank, 1984, ISBN 052123445X, p. 452
  8. ↑ A History of Macedonia: 336-167 B.C. By Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière Hammond, Frank William Walbank, 1988, ISBN 0198148151, p. 323
  9. ↑ A History of Macedonia: 336-167 B.C By Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière Hammond, Frank William Walbank, 1988, ISBN 0198148151, p. 335
  10. ↑ A History of Macedonia: 336-167 B.C. by Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière Hammond, Frank William Walbank, 1988, ISBN 0198148151, p. 322
  11. ↑ http://www.livius.org/ap-ark/apame/apame_iii.html
  12. ↑ A History of Macedonia: 336-167 B.C. By Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière Hammond, Frank William Walbank, 1988, ISBN 0198148151, p. 317
  13. ↑ cf.2.44.1-2

References

Regnal titles
Preceded by:
Antigonus II Gonatas trains		 Kings of Macedon
239–229 BC		 Succeeded by:
Antigonus III Doson