Reign 239 to 229 BC Name Demetrius Aetolicus Children Philip V of Macedon Father Antigonus II Gonatas House Antigonid dynasty | Successor Antigonus III Doson Spouse Stratonice of Macedon Predecessor Antigonus II Gonatas Died 229 BC | |
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Issue Apama III
Philip V of Macedon Mother Phila (daughter of Seleucus) Parents Phila, Antigonus II Gonatas Similar People Antigonus II Gonatas, Philip V of Macedon, Demetrius I of Macedon, Antiochus I Soter, Perseus of Macedon | ||
Demetrius ii aetolicus
Demetrius II Aetolicus (Greek: Δημήτριος ὁ Αἰτωλικός) son of Antigonus II Gonatas and Phila, reigned as king of Macedonia from the winter of 239 to 229 BC. He belonged to the Antigonid dynasty and was born in 275 BC.
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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 (c. 260 BC). There is a possibilitythat 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 to Euboea, Magnesia, Thessaly and its environs, excluding Dolopia and possibly Peparethos and Achaea Phthiotis.
In 236 BC, he invaded Boeotia, making the Boeotians submit immediately.
In 234 BC due to the Federal Republic replacing the monarchy in Epirus, which led to the events of 231 BC, Demetrius hired Agron for military aid against advancing Aetolians. His kingdom was not threatened by the Illyrian Ardiaei ruled by Agron despite them having gathered the greatest force in their history (c. 231 BC), but Epirus needed some sort of force to deter them.
At the end of his reign, Demetrius defended his domain from the tribal 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, on the throne.
Marriage and family
Demetrius married three times, though the chronology of these marriages is a matter of dispute.
Informationregarding the life of Demetrius is drawn mainly from inscriptions, as only Plutarch writes of him, in Life of Aratus, and Polybius makes scarce mention of him.