He was
assisted
in it by the Boeotians, and at one
time also by Agron, king of Illyria.
time also by Agron, king of Illyria.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - a
Concerning
both Phila and Eurydice were still living. The the chronology of these events compare Clinton,
debaucheries in which he indulged during his stay F. H. ii. p. 178, with Droysen, Gesch. d. Nach-
at Athens, where he again spent the following folger, pp. 563—569, and Thirlwall's Greece, viii.
winter, and even within the sacred precincts of p. 5, not. ) Lachares, who from a demagogue had
the Parthenon, where he was lodged, were such as made himself tyrant of Athens, escaped to Thebes,
to excite general indignation ; but nothing could and Demetrius had the generosity to spare all the
exceed the meanness and servility of the Athenians other inhabitants. He, however, retained posses-
towards him, which was such as to provoke at once sion of Munychia and the Peiraeeus, and subse-
his wonder and contempt. A curious monument quently fortified and garrisoned the hill of the
of their abject fiattery remains to us in the Ithy- Museum. (Plut. Demetr. 33, 34; Paus. i. 25.
phallic hymn preserved by Athenaeus (vi. p. 253). 56 7, 8. ) His arms were next directed against
All the laws were, at the same time, violated in the Spartans, whom he defeated, and laid siege to
order to allow him to be initiated in the Eleusinian their city, which seemed on the point of falling
mysteries. (Plut. Demetr. 23—27; Diod. xx. 100, into his hands, when he was suddenly called away
102, 103; Polyaen. iv. 7. 88 3, 8 ; Athen. vi. p. by the state of affairs in Macedonia. Here the
253, xv. p. 697. )
dissensions between Antipater and Alexander, the
The next year (B. C. 302) he was opposed to two sons of Cassander, had led the latter to call in
Cassander in Thessaly, but, though greatly supe foreign aid to his support; and he sent embassies
rior in force, effected little beyond the reduction of at once to Demetrius and to Pyrrhus, who had
3Q 2
## p. 964 (#984) ############################################
964
DEMETRIUS.
DEMETRJUS.
heen lately reinstated in his kingdom of Epirus. banks of oats. (Plut. Demetr. 43. ) But before
Pyrrhus was the nearest at hand, and had already he was ready to take the field, his adversaries,
defeated Antipater and established Alexander on alarmed at his preparations, determined to forestall
the throne of Macedonia, when Demetrius, un- him. In the spring of B. c. 287, Ptolemy sent il
willing to lose such an opportunity of aggrandize powerful fleet against Greece, while Pyrrhus (not-
ment, arrived with his army. He was received withstanding his recent treaty) on the one side
with apparent friendliness, but mutual jealousies and Lysimachus on the other simultaneously in-
quickly arose. Demetrius was informed that the vaded Macedonin. But Demetrius's greatest danger
young king had formed designs against his life, was from the disaffection of his own subjects,
which he anticipated by causing him to be assassi- whom he had completely alienated by his proud
nated at a banquet. He was immediately after and haughty bearing, and his lavish expenditure
wards acknowledged as king by the Macedonian on his own luxuries. He first marched against
army, and proceeded at their head to take posses Lysimachus, but alarmed at the growing discontent
sion of his new fovereignty, B. C. 294. (Plut. among his troops, he suddenly returned to face
Demoir. 35-37, Pyrrh. 6,7 ; Justin. xvi. l; Paus. Pyrrhus, who had advanced as far as Beraea.
i. 10. § 1, ix. 7. $ 3; Euseb. Arm. p. 155. ) This was a most unfortunate step : Pyrrhus was
While Demetrius had by this singular revolution at this time the hero of the Macedonians, who no
hecome possessed of a kingdom in Europe, he had sooner met him than they all declared in his favour,
lost all his former possessions in Asia: Lysimachus, and Demetrius was obliged to fly from his camp in
Seleucus, and Ptolemy having taken advantage of disguise, and with difficulty made his escape to
his absence in Greece to reduce Cilicia, Cyprus, Cassandreia. (Plut. Demetr. 44, Pyrrh. 11; Jus-
and the cities which he bad held on the coasts of tin, xvi. 2. ) His affairs now appeared to be hope-
Phoenicia and Asia Minor. He, however, con- less, and even his wife Phila, who had frequenily
clnded a peace with Lysimachus, by which the supported and assisted him in his adversities, now
latter yielded to him the remaining portion of poisoned herself in despair. But Demetrius him-
Macedonia, and turned his whole attention to the self was far from desponding; he was still master
affairs of Greece. Here the Boeotians had taken of Thessaly and some other parts of Greece,
up arms, supported by the Spartans under Cleo though Athens had again shaken off his yoke: he
nymus, but were soon defeated, and Thebes taken was able to raise a small fleet and army, with
after a short siege, but treated with mildness by which, leaving his son Antigonus to command in
Demetrius. After his return to Macedonia he took Greece, he crossed over to Miletus. Here he was
advantage of the absence of Lysimachus and his received by Eurydice, wife of Ptolemy, whose
captivity among the Getae to invade Thrace ; but daughter Ptolemaïs had been promised him in
though he met with little opposition there, he was marriage as early as B. c. 301, and their long de-
recalled by the news of a fresh insurrection in laved nuptials were now solemnized. Demetrius
Boeotia. To this he speedily put an end, repulsed at first obtained many successes; but the advance
Pyrrhus, who had attempted by invading Thessaly of Agathocles with a powerful army compelled him
to effect a dirersion in favour of the Boeotians, and to retire. He now threw himself boldly into the
again took Thebes after a siege protracted for interior of Asia, having conceived the daring pro-
nearly a year. (B. C. 290. ) He had again the ject of establishing himself in the eastern provinces
humanity to spare the city, and put to death only of Seleucus. But his troops refused to follow him.
thirteen (others say only ten) of the leaders of the He then passed over into Cilicia, and after various
revolt. (Plut. Demetr. 39, 40 ; Diod. xxi. Exc. negotiations with Seleucus, and having suffered
10, Exc. Vales. p. 560. ) Pyrrhus was now one of the greatest losses and privations from famine and
the most formidable enemies of Demetrius, and it disease, he found himself abandoned by his troops
was against that prince and his allies the Aetolians and even by his most faithful friends, and had no
that he next directed his arms. But while he choice but to surrender himself a prisoner to
himself inraded and raraged Epeirus almost with. Seleucus. (B. c. 286. ) That king appears to have
out opposition, Pyrrhus gained a great victory over been at first disposed to treat him with honour,
his lieutenant Pantauchus in Aetolia ; and the but took alarm at his popularity with the army,
next year, Demetrius being confined by a severe and sent him as a prisoner to the Syrian Cherso-
illness at Pella, Pyrrhus took advantage of the op-
Here he was confined at one of the royal
portunity to overrun a great part of Macedonia, residences, where he had the liberty of hunting in
which he, however, lost again as quickly, the mo- the adjoining park, and does not seem to have
ment Demetrius was recovered. (Plut. Demetr. I been harshly treated. Seleucus even professed an
41, 43, Pyrrh. 7. 10. )
3
intention of restoring him to liberty, and indig-
It was about this time that Demetrius concluded nantly rejected the proposal of Lysimachus to put
an alliance with Agathocles, king of Syracuse, him to death ; but the restless spirit of Demetrius
whose daughter Lanassa, the wife of Pyrrhus, had could ill brook confinement, and he gave himself
previously surrendered to him the important island up without restraint to the pleasures of the table,
of Corcyra. (Plut. Pyrrh. 11; Diod. xxi. Exc. 11. ) which brought on an illness that proved fatal. His
But it was towards the East that the views of death took place in the third year of his imprison-
Demetrius were mainly directed : he aimed at ment and the fifty-fifth of his age, B. C, 283. (Plut.
nothing less than recovering the whole of his Demetr. 45–52 ; Polyaen. 9; Diod. xxi. Exc.
father's dominions in Asia, and now hastened to Vales. p. 562. ) His remains were sent by Seleucus
conclude a peace with Pyrrhus, that he might con- with all due honours to his son Antigonus, who
tinue his preparations uninterrupted. These were interred them at Demetrias in Thessaly, a city
on a most gigantic scale : if we may believe Plu- which he had himself founded. (Plut. Deinetr. 53. )
tarch, he bad assembled not less than 98,000 There can be no doubt that Demetrius was one
foot and near 12,000 borse, as well as a fleet of of the most remarkable characters of his age: in
600 ships, among which were some of 15 and 16 | restless activity of mind, fertility of resource, and
nesus.
## p. 965 (#985) ############################################
DEMETRIUS.
965
DEMETRIUS.
a
daring promptitude in the execution of his schemes, whom he had by an Illyrian woman, and of whom
he has perhaps never been surpassed; but prog- nothing is known but his name mentioned by
perity always proved fatal to him, and he con- Plutarch. (Plut. Demetr. 53. ) [E. H. B. ]
stantly lost by his luxury and voluptuousness the DEMETRIUS (Anuńtpios) II. , king of Mace.
advantages that he had gained by the vigour and DONIA, was the son of Antigonus Gonatas, and
nctivity which adversity never failed to call forth. succeeded his father in B. c. 239. According to
His life was in consequence a continued succession Justin (xxvi. 2), he had distinguished himself as
of rapid and striking vicissitudes of fortune. It early as B. c. 266 or 265, by the defeat of Alexan-
has been seen that he was guilty of some great der of Epeirus, who had invaded the territories of
crimes, though on the whole he can be charged his father: but this statement is justly rejected by
perhaps with fewer than any one of his contempo- Droysen (Hellenismus, ii. p. 214) and Niebuhr
raries; and he shewed in several instances a degree (Kleine Schrift. p. 2:28) on account of his extreme
of humanity and generosity very rarely displayed youth, as he could not at this time have been
at that period. His besetting sin was his un- above twelve years old. (See, however, Euseb.
bounded licentiousness, a vice in which, says Arm. i. p. 160; Thirlwall's Greece, vol. viii. p. 90. )
Plutarch, he surpassed all his contemporary mo- Of the events of his reign, which lasted ten years,
narchs. Besides Lamia and his other mistresses, B. C. 239-229 (Polyb. ii. 4+; Droysen, ii. p. 400,
he was regularly married to four wives, Phila, not. ), our knowledge is so imperfect, that very op-
Eurydice, Deždameia, and Ptolemaïs, by whom he posite opinions have been formed concerning his
left four sons. The eldest of these, Antigonus character and abilities. He followed up the
Gonatas, eventually succeeded him on the throne policy of his father Antigonus, by cultivating
of Macedonia.
friendly relations with the tyrants of the different
According to Plutarch, Demetrius was remark- cities in the Peloponnese, in opposition to the
able for his beauty and dignity of countenance, a Achaean league (Polyb. ii. 44), at the same time
remark fully borne out by his portrait as it appears that he engaged in war with the Aetolians, which
upon his coins, one of which is annexed. On this had the effect of throwing them into alliance with
his head is represented with horns, in imitation of the Achaeans. We know nothing of the details
Dionysus, the deity whom he particularly sought of this war, which seems to have arisen for the
to emulate. (Plut. Demetr. 2; Eckhel, ii. p. possession of Acarnania ; but though Demetrius
122. )
appears to have obtained some successes, the Aeto-
lians on the whole gained ground during his reign.
He was assisted in it by the Boeotians, and at one
time also by Agron, king of Illyria. (Polyb. ii. 2.
46, xx. 5; Schorn, Gesch. Griechenlands, p. 88 ;
Droysen, ii. p. 440 ; Thirlwall's Greece, viii. pp.
118—125. ) We learn also that he suffered a
great defeat from the Dardanians, a barbarian tribe
on the north-western frontier of Macedonia, but it
is quite uncertain to what period of his reign we
are to refer this event. (Prol. Trogi Pompeii, lib.
xxviii
. ; Liv. xxxi. 28. ) It was probably towards
Of his children two bore the same name : the commencement of it that Olympias, the widow
1. Demetrius, surnamed the Handsome (8 of Alexander of Epeirus, in order to secure his
Kalós), whom he bad by Ptolemaïs, daughter support, gave him in marriage her daughter Phthia
of Ptolemy Soter, and who was consequently (Justin. xxviii. 1), notwithstanding which he ap-
brother of Antigonus Gonatas. He was first mar- pears to have taken no steps either to prevent or
ried to Olympias of Larissa, by whom he had a son avenge the death of Olympias and her two sons.
Antigonus, surnamed Doson, who afterwards suc- Demetrius had previously been married to Strato-
ceeded to the throne of Macedonia. (Euseb. Arm. nice, daughter of Antiochus Soter, who quitted
i. p 161, fol. ed. ) After the death of Magas, king him in disgust on his second marriage with Phthia,
of Cyrene, his widow, Arsinoë, wishing to obtain and retired to Syria. (Justin, l. c. ; Euseb. Arm.
support against Ptolemy, sent to Macedonia to i p. 164; Joseph. c. Apion. i. 22 ; Niebuhr's
offer the hand of her daughter Berenice, and with Kleine Schriften, p. 255. )
[E. H. B. ]
it the kingdom of Cyrene, to Demetrius, who
readily embraced the offer, repaired immediately to
Cyrene, and established his power there without
opposition. How long he continued to hold it we
know not; but he is said to have given general
offence by his haughty and unpopular manners, and
carried on a criminal intercourse with his mother-
in-law, Arsinoë. This was deeply resented by
COIN OF DEMETRIUS II.
the young queen, Berenice, who caused him to be
assassinated in her mother's arms. (Justin, xxvi. DEME'TRIUS (Anuntpuos), a Greek of the
3; Euseb. Arm. i. pp. 157, 158 ; Niebuhr's Kleine, island of Pharos in the Adriatic. He was in the
Schriften. p. 229; Droysen, Hellenism. ii. p. 292, service of the Illyrians at the time that war first
&c. ) According to a probable conjecture of Droy- broke out between them and Rome, and held
sen's (ii. p. 215), it must have been this Deme Corcyra for the Illyrian queen Teuta ; but treach-
trius, and not, as stated by Justin (xxvi. 2), the erously surrendered it to the Roman fleet, and
son of Antigonus Gonatas, who defeated Alexander became a guide and active ally to the consuls in
of Epeirus when he invaded Macedonia.
all their subsequent operations. (Polyb. ii. 11. )
2. Demetrius, surnamed the Thin (AETTOS), His services were rewarded, after the defeat and
AHMHTPISY
BARIAE AS
(MA
## p. 966 (#986) ############################################
966
DEMETRIUS.
DEMETRIUS.
submission of Teuta, with a great part of her do- effect his ruin by his intrigues; and having failed
minions, though the Romans seem never to have in accomplishing this by accusing him falsely of an
thoroughly trusted him. (Polyb. l. c. ; Appian, attempt upon his life, he suborned Didas, one of
Illyr. c. 8. ) He afterwards entered into alliance Philip's generals, to accuse Demetrius of holding
with Antigonus Doson, king of Macedonia, and treasonable correspondence with the Romans, and
assisted him in the war against Cleomenes. (Polyb. of intending to escape to them. A forged letter,
j. 65, iii. 16. ) Thinking that he had thus secured pretending to be from Flamininus, appeared to con-
the powerful support of Macedonin, and that the firm the charge; and Philip was induced to consign
Romans were too much occupied with the Gallic him to the custody of Didas, by whom he was
wars, and the danger impending from Hannibal, to secretly put to death, as it was supposed, by his
punish his brench of fuith, he ventured on many father's order. (Liv. xxxix. 53, xl. 4—15, 20--
acts of piratical hostility. The Romans, however, 24; Polyb. xxiv. 7, 8; Justin, xxxii. 2; Zonar.
immediately sent the consul L. Aemilius Paullus ix. 22. ) Demetrius was in his 26th year at the
over to Illyria (B. C. 219), who quickly reduced all time of his death ; he is represented by Livy as a
his strongholds, took Pharos itself, and obliged very amiable and accomplished young man; but it
Demetrius to fly for refuge to Philip, king of may well be doubted whether he was altogether so
Macedonia. (Polyb. iii. 16, 18, 19; Appian, innocent as he appears in that author's eloquent
Illyr. 8; Zonar. viii. 20. ) At the court of this narrative. (See Niebuhr's Lect. on Romun llis-
prince he spent the remainder of his life, and be- tory, vol. i. p. 272, ed. by Dr. Schmitz. [E. H. B. ]
came his chief adviser. The Romans in vain sent DEMETRIUS POLIORCETES. [DEME-
an embassy to the Macedonian king to demand bis Trius I. , KING OF MACEDONIA. ]
surrender (Liv. xxii. 33); and it was at his insti- DEMETRIUS (Anuntplos) I. , king of Syria,
gation that Philip determined, after the battle of surnamed Sorer (Swip), was the son of Seleucus
Thrasymene, to conclude an alliance with Han- IV. (Philopator) and grandson of Antiochus the
nibal and make war upon the Romans. (Polyb. Great. While yet a child, he had been sent to
r. 101, 105, 108; Justin. xxix. 2. ) Demetrius Rome by his father as a hostage, and remained
was a man of a daring character, but presumptuous there during the whole of the reign of Antiochus
and deficient in judgment; and while supporting Epiphanes. He there formed an intimacy with
the cause of Philip in Greece, he was led to engage the historian Polybius. After the death of
in a rash attempt to take the fortress of Ithome by Antiochus, being now 23 years old, he demanded
a sudden assault, in which he himself perished. of the senate to be set at liberty and allowed to
(Polyb. iii. 19. ) Polybius ascribes most of the occupy the throne of Syria in preference to his
violent and unjust proceedings of Philip in Greece cousin, Antiochus Eupator. His request however
to the advice and intluence of Demetrius, who ap- having been repeatedly refused by the senate, he
pears to have been a man of much ability, but fied secretly from Rome, by the advice and with
wholly regardless of faith and justice. (Polyb. the connivance of Polybius, and landed with a
vii. 11, 13, 14. )
(E. H. B. ] few followers at Tripolis in Phoenicia. The Sy-
DEMEʻTRIUS (Anurtpios), younger son of rians immediately declared in his favour ; and the
Philip V. , king of Macedonia, but his only son by boy Antiochus with his tutor Lysias were seized
his legitimate wife, the elder brother Perseus being by their own guards and put to death. (Polyb.
the son of a concubine. (Liv. xxxix. 53. ) After xxxi. 12, 19–23; Appian, Syr. 46, 47; Justin,
the battle of Cynoscephalae, Philip was obliged to xxxiv. 3; Liv. Epit. xlvi. ; Euseb. Arm. p. 166,
give up Demetrius, then very young, to Flamininus fol. edit. ; 1 Macc. vii. ; Zonar. ix. 25. ) As soon
as a hostage, and he was subsequently sent to as he had established himself in the kingdom, De-
Rome in the same capacity, B. c. 198. (Liv. metrius immediately sought to conciliate the favour
xxxiii. 13, 30, xxxiv. 52; Polyb. xviii. 22. ) Five of the Romans by sending them an embassy with
years afterwards he was honourably restored to bis valuable presents, and surrendering to them Lep-
father, Philip having at this time obtained the tines, who in the preceding reign had assassinated
favour of Rome by his services in the war against the Roman envoy, Cn. Octavius. Having thus
Antiochus. (Liv. xxxvi. 35; Polyb. xx. 13; succeeded in procuring his recognition as king, he
Zonar. ix. 19. ) But this did not last long, and appears to have thought that he might regulate at
Philip finding himself assailed on all sides by the his pleasure the attairs of the East, and expelled
machinations of Rome, and her intrigues among Heracleides from Babylon, where as satrap he had
his neighbours, determined to try and avert, or at made himself highly unpopular; for which service
least delay, the impending storm, by sending De- Demetrius first obtained from the Babylonians the
metrius, who during his residence at Rome had title of Soter (Polyb. xxxii. 4, 6; Diod. Exc. Leg.
obtained the highest favour, as his ambassador to xxxi. ; Appian, Syr. 47. ) His measures against
the senate. The young prince was most favourably the Jews quickly drove them to take up arms
received, and returned with the answer, that the again under Judas Maccabaeus, who defeated Ni-
Romans were willing to excuse all the past, out of canor, the general of Demetrius, and concluded an
good will to Demetrius, and from their confidence alliance with the Romans, by which they declared
in his friendly dispositions towards them. (Liv.
both Phila and Eurydice were still living. The the chronology of these events compare Clinton,
debaucheries in which he indulged during his stay F. H. ii. p. 178, with Droysen, Gesch. d. Nach-
at Athens, where he again spent the following folger, pp. 563—569, and Thirlwall's Greece, viii.
winter, and even within the sacred precincts of p. 5, not. ) Lachares, who from a demagogue had
the Parthenon, where he was lodged, were such as made himself tyrant of Athens, escaped to Thebes,
to excite general indignation ; but nothing could and Demetrius had the generosity to spare all the
exceed the meanness and servility of the Athenians other inhabitants. He, however, retained posses-
towards him, which was such as to provoke at once sion of Munychia and the Peiraeeus, and subse-
his wonder and contempt. A curious monument quently fortified and garrisoned the hill of the
of their abject fiattery remains to us in the Ithy- Museum. (Plut. Demetr. 33, 34; Paus. i. 25.
phallic hymn preserved by Athenaeus (vi. p. 253). 56 7, 8. ) His arms were next directed against
All the laws were, at the same time, violated in the Spartans, whom he defeated, and laid siege to
order to allow him to be initiated in the Eleusinian their city, which seemed on the point of falling
mysteries. (Plut. Demetr. 23—27; Diod. xx. 100, into his hands, when he was suddenly called away
102, 103; Polyaen. iv. 7. 88 3, 8 ; Athen. vi. p. by the state of affairs in Macedonia. Here the
253, xv. p. 697. )
dissensions between Antipater and Alexander, the
The next year (B. C. 302) he was opposed to two sons of Cassander, had led the latter to call in
Cassander in Thessaly, but, though greatly supe foreign aid to his support; and he sent embassies
rior in force, effected little beyond the reduction of at once to Demetrius and to Pyrrhus, who had
3Q 2
## p. 964 (#984) ############################################
964
DEMETRIUS.
DEMETRJUS.
heen lately reinstated in his kingdom of Epirus. banks of oats. (Plut. Demetr. 43. ) But before
Pyrrhus was the nearest at hand, and had already he was ready to take the field, his adversaries,
defeated Antipater and established Alexander on alarmed at his preparations, determined to forestall
the throne of Macedonia, when Demetrius, un- him. In the spring of B. c. 287, Ptolemy sent il
willing to lose such an opportunity of aggrandize powerful fleet against Greece, while Pyrrhus (not-
ment, arrived with his army. He was received withstanding his recent treaty) on the one side
with apparent friendliness, but mutual jealousies and Lysimachus on the other simultaneously in-
quickly arose. Demetrius was informed that the vaded Macedonin. But Demetrius's greatest danger
young king had formed designs against his life, was from the disaffection of his own subjects,
which he anticipated by causing him to be assassi- whom he had completely alienated by his proud
nated at a banquet. He was immediately after and haughty bearing, and his lavish expenditure
wards acknowledged as king by the Macedonian on his own luxuries. He first marched against
army, and proceeded at their head to take posses Lysimachus, but alarmed at the growing discontent
sion of his new fovereignty, B. C. 294. (Plut. among his troops, he suddenly returned to face
Demoir. 35-37, Pyrrh. 6,7 ; Justin. xvi. l; Paus. Pyrrhus, who had advanced as far as Beraea.
i. 10. § 1, ix. 7. $ 3; Euseb. Arm. p. 155. ) This was a most unfortunate step : Pyrrhus was
While Demetrius had by this singular revolution at this time the hero of the Macedonians, who no
hecome possessed of a kingdom in Europe, he had sooner met him than they all declared in his favour,
lost all his former possessions in Asia: Lysimachus, and Demetrius was obliged to fly from his camp in
Seleucus, and Ptolemy having taken advantage of disguise, and with difficulty made his escape to
his absence in Greece to reduce Cilicia, Cyprus, Cassandreia. (Plut. Demetr. 44, Pyrrh. 11; Jus-
and the cities which he bad held on the coasts of tin, xvi. 2. ) His affairs now appeared to be hope-
Phoenicia and Asia Minor. He, however, con- less, and even his wife Phila, who had frequenily
clnded a peace with Lysimachus, by which the supported and assisted him in his adversities, now
latter yielded to him the remaining portion of poisoned herself in despair. But Demetrius him-
Macedonia, and turned his whole attention to the self was far from desponding; he was still master
affairs of Greece. Here the Boeotians had taken of Thessaly and some other parts of Greece,
up arms, supported by the Spartans under Cleo though Athens had again shaken off his yoke: he
nymus, but were soon defeated, and Thebes taken was able to raise a small fleet and army, with
after a short siege, but treated with mildness by which, leaving his son Antigonus to command in
Demetrius. After his return to Macedonia he took Greece, he crossed over to Miletus. Here he was
advantage of the absence of Lysimachus and his received by Eurydice, wife of Ptolemy, whose
captivity among the Getae to invade Thrace ; but daughter Ptolemaïs had been promised him in
though he met with little opposition there, he was marriage as early as B. c. 301, and their long de-
recalled by the news of a fresh insurrection in laved nuptials were now solemnized. Demetrius
Boeotia. To this he speedily put an end, repulsed at first obtained many successes; but the advance
Pyrrhus, who had attempted by invading Thessaly of Agathocles with a powerful army compelled him
to effect a dirersion in favour of the Boeotians, and to retire. He now threw himself boldly into the
again took Thebes after a siege protracted for interior of Asia, having conceived the daring pro-
nearly a year. (B. C. 290. ) He had again the ject of establishing himself in the eastern provinces
humanity to spare the city, and put to death only of Seleucus. But his troops refused to follow him.
thirteen (others say only ten) of the leaders of the He then passed over into Cilicia, and after various
revolt. (Plut. Demetr. 39, 40 ; Diod. xxi. Exc. negotiations with Seleucus, and having suffered
10, Exc. Vales. p. 560. ) Pyrrhus was now one of the greatest losses and privations from famine and
the most formidable enemies of Demetrius, and it disease, he found himself abandoned by his troops
was against that prince and his allies the Aetolians and even by his most faithful friends, and had no
that he next directed his arms. But while he choice but to surrender himself a prisoner to
himself inraded and raraged Epeirus almost with. Seleucus. (B. c. 286. ) That king appears to have
out opposition, Pyrrhus gained a great victory over been at first disposed to treat him with honour,
his lieutenant Pantauchus in Aetolia ; and the but took alarm at his popularity with the army,
next year, Demetrius being confined by a severe and sent him as a prisoner to the Syrian Cherso-
illness at Pella, Pyrrhus took advantage of the op-
Here he was confined at one of the royal
portunity to overrun a great part of Macedonia, residences, where he had the liberty of hunting in
which he, however, lost again as quickly, the mo- the adjoining park, and does not seem to have
ment Demetrius was recovered. (Plut. Demetr. I been harshly treated. Seleucus even professed an
41, 43, Pyrrh. 7. 10. )
3
intention of restoring him to liberty, and indig-
It was about this time that Demetrius concluded nantly rejected the proposal of Lysimachus to put
an alliance with Agathocles, king of Syracuse, him to death ; but the restless spirit of Demetrius
whose daughter Lanassa, the wife of Pyrrhus, had could ill brook confinement, and he gave himself
previously surrendered to him the important island up without restraint to the pleasures of the table,
of Corcyra. (Plut. Pyrrh. 11; Diod. xxi. Exc. 11. ) which brought on an illness that proved fatal. His
But it was towards the East that the views of death took place in the third year of his imprison-
Demetrius were mainly directed : he aimed at ment and the fifty-fifth of his age, B. C, 283. (Plut.
nothing less than recovering the whole of his Demetr. 45–52 ; Polyaen. 9; Diod. xxi. Exc.
father's dominions in Asia, and now hastened to Vales. p. 562. ) His remains were sent by Seleucus
conclude a peace with Pyrrhus, that he might con- with all due honours to his son Antigonus, who
tinue his preparations uninterrupted. These were interred them at Demetrias in Thessaly, a city
on a most gigantic scale : if we may believe Plu- which he had himself founded. (Plut. Deinetr. 53. )
tarch, he bad assembled not less than 98,000 There can be no doubt that Demetrius was one
foot and near 12,000 borse, as well as a fleet of of the most remarkable characters of his age: in
600 ships, among which were some of 15 and 16 | restless activity of mind, fertility of resource, and
nesus.
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DEMETRIUS.
965
DEMETRIUS.
a
daring promptitude in the execution of his schemes, whom he had by an Illyrian woman, and of whom
he has perhaps never been surpassed; but prog- nothing is known but his name mentioned by
perity always proved fatal to him, and he con- Plutarch. (Plut. Demetr. 53. ) [E. H. B. ]
stantly lost by his luxury and voluptuousness the DEMETRIUS (Anuńtpios) II. , king of Mace.
advantages that he had gained by the vigour and DONIA, was the son of Antigonus Gonatas, and
nctivity which adversity never failed to call forth. succeeded his father in B. c. 239. According to
His life was in consequence a continued succession Justin (xxvi. 2), he had distinguished himself as
of rapid and striking vicissitudes of fortune. It early as B. c. 266 or 265, by the defeat of Alexan-
has been seen that he was guilty of some great der of Epeirus, who had invaded the territories of
crimes, though on the whole he can be charged his father: but this statement is justly rejected by
perhaps with fewer than any one of his contempo- Droysen (Hellenismus, ii. p. 214) and Niebuhr
raries; and he shewed in several instances a degree (Kleine Schrift. p. 2:28) on account of his extreme
of humanity and generosity very rarely displayed youth, as he could not at this time have been
at that period. His besetting sin was his un- above twelve years old. (See, however, Euseb.
bounded licentiousness, a vice in which, says Arm. i. p. 160; Thirlwall's Greece, vol. viii. p. 90. )
Plutarch, he surpassed all his contemporary mo- Of the events of his reign, which lasted ten years,
narchs. Besides Lamia and his other mistresses, B. C. 239-229 (Polyb. ii. 4+; Droysen, ii. p. 400,
he was regularly married to four wives, Phila, not. ), our knowledge is so imperfect, that very op-
Eurydice, Deždameia, and Ptolemaïs, by whom he posite opinions have been formed concerning his
left four sons. The eldest of these, Antigonus character and abilities. He followed up the
Gonatas, eventually succeeded him on the throne policy of his father Antigonus, by cultivating
of Macedonia.
friendly relations with the tyrants of the different
According to Plutarch, Demetrius was remark- cities in the Peloponnese, in opposition to the
able for his beauty and dignity of countenance, a Achaean league (Polyb. ii. 44), at the same time
remark fully borne out by his portrait as it appears that he engaged in war with the Aetolians, which
upon his coins, one of which is annexed. On this had the effect of throwing them into alliance with
his head is represented with horns, in imitation of the Achaeans. We know nothing of the details
Dionysus, the deity whom he particularly sought of this war, which seems to have arisen for the
to emulate. (Plut. Demetr. 2; Eckhel, ii. p. possession of Acarnania ; but though Demetrius
122. )
appears to have obtained some successes, the Aeto-
lians on the whole gained ground during his reign.
He was assisted in it by the Boeotians, and at one
time also by Agron, king of Illyria. (Polyb. ii. 2.
46, xx. 5; Schorn, Gesch. Griechenlands, p. 88 ;
Droysen, ii. p. 440 ; Thirlwall's Greece, viii. pp.
118—125. ) We learn also that he suffered a
great defeat from the Dardanians, a barbarian tribe
on the north-western frontier of Macedonia, but it
is quite uncertain to what period of his reign we
are to refer this event. (Prol. Trogi Pompeii, lib.
xxviii
. ; Liv. xxxi. 28. ) It was probably towards
Of his children two bore the same name : the commencement of it that Olympias, the widow
1. Demetrius, surnamed the Handsome (8 of Alexander of Epeirus, in order to secure his
Kalós), whom he bad by Ptolemaïs, daughter support, gave him in marriage her daughter Phthia
of Ptolemy Soter, and who was consequently (Justin. xxviii. 1), notwithstanding which he ap-
brother of Antigonus Gonatas. He was first mar- pears to have taken no steps either to prevent or
ried to Olympias of Larissa, by whom he had a son avenge the death of Olympias and her two sons.
Antigonus, surnamed Doson, who afterwards suc- Demetrius had previously been married to Strato-
ceeded to the throne of Macedonia. (Euseb. Arm. nice, daughter of Antiochus Soter, who quitted
i. p 161, fol. ed. ) After the death of Magas, king him in disgust on his second marriage with Phthia,
of Cyrene, his widow, Arsinoë, wishing to obtain and retired to Syria. (Justin, l. c. ; Euseb. Arm.
support against Ptolemy, sent to Macedonia to i p. 164; Joseph. c. Apion. i. 22 ; Niebuhr's
offer the hand of her daughter Berenice, and with Kleine Schriften, p. 255. )
[E. H. B. ]
it the kingdom of Cyrene, to Demetrius, who
readily embraced the offer, repaired immediately to
Cyrene, and established his power there without
opposition. How long he continued to hold it we
know not; but he is said to have given general
offence by his haughty and unpopular manners, and
carried on a criminal intercourse with his mother-
in-law, Arsinoë. This was deeply resented by
COIN OF DEMETRIUS II.
the young queen, Berenice, who caused him to be
assassinated in her mother's arms. (Justin, xxvi. DEME'TRIUS (Anuntpuos), a Greek of the
3; Euseb. Arm. i. pp. 157, 158 ; Niebuhr's Kleine, island of Pharos in the Adriatic. He was in the
Schriften. p. 229; Droysen, Hellenism. ii. p. 292, service of the Illyrians at the time that war first
&c. ) According to a probable conjecture of Droy- broke out between them and Rome, and held
sen's (ii. p. 215), it must have been this Deme Corcyra for the Illyrian queen Teuta ; but treach-
trius, and not, as stated by Justin (xxvi. 2), the erously surrendered it to the Roman fleet, and
son of Antigonus Gonatas, who defeated Alexander became a guide and active ally to the consuls in
of Epeirus when he invaded Macedonia.
all their subsequent operations. (Polyb. ii. 11. )
2. Demetrius, surnamed the Thin (AETTOS), His services were rewarded, after the defeat and
AHMHTPISY
BARIAE AS
(MA
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966
DEMETRIUS.
DEMETRIUS.
submission of Teuta, with a great part of her do- effect his ruin by his intrigues; and having failed
minions, though the Romans seem never to have in accomplishing this by accusing him falsely of an
thoroughly trusted him. (Polyb. l. c. ; Appian, attempt upon his life, he suborned Didas, one of
Illyr. c. 8. ) He afterwards entered into alliance Philip's generals, to accuse Demetrius of holding
with Antigonus Doson, king of Macedonia, and treasonable correspondence with the Romans, and
assisted him in the war against Cleomenes. (Polyb. of intending to escape to them. A forged letter,
j. 65, iii. 16. ) Thinking that he had thus secured pretending to be from Flamininus, appeared to con-
the powerful support of Macedonin, and that the firm the charge; and Philip was induced to consign
Romans were too much occupied with the Gallic him to the custody of Didas, by whom he was
wars, and the danger impending from Hannibal, to secretly put to death, as it was supposed, by his
punish his brench of fuith, he ventured on many father's order. (Liv. xxxix. 53, xl. 4—15, 20--
acts of piratical hostility. The Romans, however, 24; Polyb. xxiv. 7, 8; Justin, xxxii. 2; Zonar.
immediately sent the consul L. Aemilius Paullus ix. 22. ) Demetrius was in his 26th year at the
over to Illyria (B. C. 219), who quickly reduced all time of his death ; he is represented by Livy as a
his strongholds, took Pharos itself, and obliged very amiable and accomplished young man; but it
Demetrius to fly for refuge to Philip, king of may well be doubted whether he was altogether so
Macedonia. (Polyb. iii. 16, 18, 19; Appian, innocent as he appears in that author's eloquent
Illyr. 8; Zonar. viii. 20. ) At the court of this narrative. (See Niebuhr's Lect. on Romun llis-
prince he spent the remainder of his life, and be- tory, vol. i. p. 272, ed. by Dr. Schmitz. [E. H. B. ]
came his chief adviser. The Romans in vain sent DEMETRIUS POLIORCETES. [DEME-
an embassy to the Macedonian king to demand bis Trius I. , KING OF MACEDONIA. ]
surrender (Liv. xxii. 33); and it was at his insti- DEMETRIUS (Anuntplos) I. , king of Syria,
gation that Philip determined, after the battle of surnamed Sorer (Swip), was the son of Seleucus
Thrasymene, to conclude an alliance with Han- IV. (Philopator) and grandson of Antiochus the
nibal and make war upon the Romans. (Polyb. Great. While yet a child, he had been sent to
r. 101, 105, 108; Justin. xxix. 2. ) Demetrius Rome by his father as a hostage, and remained
was a man of a daring character, but presumptuous there during the whole of the reign of Antiochus
and deficient in judgment; and while supporting Epiphanes. He there formed an intimacy with
the cause of Philip in Greece, he was led to engage the historian Polybius. After the death of
in a rash attempt to take the fortress of Ithome by Antiochus, being now 23 years old, he demanded
a sudden assault, in which he himself perished. of the senate to be set at liberty and allowed to
(Polyb. iii. 19. ) Polybius ascribes most of the occupy the throne of Syria in preference to his
violent and unjust proceedings of Philip in Greece cousin, Antiochus Eupator. His request however
to the advice and intluence of Demetrius, who ap- having been repeatedly refused by the senate, he
pears to have been a man of much ability, but fied secretly from Rome, by the advice and with
wholly regardless of faith and justice. (Polyb. the connivance of Polybius, and landed with a
vii. 11, 13, 14. )
(E. H. B. ] few followers at Tripolis in Phoenicia. The Sy-
DEMEʻTRIUS (Anurtpios), younger son of rians immediately declared in his favour ; and the
Philip V. , king of Macedonia, but his only son by boy Antiochus with his tutor Lysias were seized
his legitimate wife, the elder brother Perseus being by their own guards and put to death. (Polyb.
the son of a concubine. (Liv. xxxix. 53. ) After xxxi. 12, 19–23; Appian, Syr. 46, 47; Justin,
the battle of Cynoscephalae, Philip was obliged to xxxiv. 3; Liv. Epit. xlvi. ; Euseb. Arm. p. 166,
give up Demetrius, then very young, to Flamininus fol. edit. ; 1 Macc. vii. ; Zonar. ix. 25. ) As soon
as a hostage, and he was subsequently sent to as he had established himself in the kingdom, De-
Rome in the same capacity, B. c. 198. (Liv. metrius immediately sought to conciliate the favour
xxxiii. 13, 30, xxxiv. 52; Polyb. xviii. 22. ) Five of the Romans by sending them an embassy with
years afterwards he was honourably restored to bis valuable presents, and surrendering to them Lep-
father, Philip having at this time obtained the tines, who in the preceding reign had assassinated
favour of Rome by his services in the war against the Roman envoy, Cn. Octavius. Having thus
Antiochus. (Liv. xxxvi. 35; Polyb. xx. 13; succeeded in procuring his recognition as king, he
Zonar. ix. 19. ) But this did not last long, and appears to have thought that he might regulate at
Philip finding himself assailed on all sides by the his pleasure the attairs of the East, and expelled
machinations of Rome, and her intrigues among Heracleides from Babylon, where as satrap he had
his neighbours, determined to try and avert, or at made himself highly unpopular; for which service
least delay, the impending storm, by sending De- Demetrius first obtained from the Babylonians the
metrius, who during his residence at Rome had title of Soter (Polyb. xxxii. 4, 6; Diod. Exc. Leg.
obtained the highest favour, as his ambassador to xxxi. ; Appian, Syr. 47. ) His measures against
the senate. The young prince was most favourably the Jews quickly drove them to take up arms
received, and returned with the answer, that the again under Judas Maccabaeus, who defeated Ni-
Romans were willing to excuse all the past, out of canor, the general of Demetrius, and concluded an
good will to Demetrius, and from their confidence alliance with the Romans, by which they declared
in his friendly dispositions towards them. (Liv.
