Demetrius I of Macedon, also known as Demetrios Poliorcetes, the 'Besieger' (c. 336 - c. 282 BCE), was a Macedonian king who, along with his father Antigonus I, fought for control of Alexander the Great's empire in the 'Successor Wars'. After successes in central Greece and Cyprus, he gained his lasting reputation as a master planner and 'Besieger of Cities' following his one-year siege of Rhodes. Perhaps with his resources never quite matching his ambition, Demetrius did not live up to his early promise and died without an army or an empire. He is the subject of one of Plutarch's Lives biographies.
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Definition
Timeline
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c. 336 BCE - c. 282 BCELife of Demetrius I of Macedon.
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322 BCE - 275 BCEThe Wars of the Diadochi, also known as the Wars of Alexander's Successors.
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322 BCEDemetrius I flees Phrygia with his father Antigonus I.
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c. 317 BCEDemetrius I commands his father's cavalry units at the battles of Paraetacene and Gabiene in Persia.
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312 BCEDemetrius I of Macedon loses the Battle of Giza against Ptolemy I and Seleucus I Nicator.
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307 BCEDemetrius I frees Athens from the tyrant Demetrius of Phaleron.
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306 BCEDemetrius I of Macedon defeats Ptolemy's fleet at Salamis, off the coast of Cyprus.
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305 BCE - 304 BCEDemetrius I unsuccessfully lays siege to Rhodes.
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301 BCEThe Battle of Ipsus in central Phrygia where Lysimachus and Seleucos I defeat Antigonus I and Demetrius I of Macedon.
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c. 299 BCEDemetrius I marries Stratonice, daughter of Seleucus I and in return Demetrius is given Cilicia.
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295 BCEDemetrius I campaigns in central Greece, removes the tyrant Lachares from Athens and defeats Sparta.
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294 BCE - c. 288 BCEDemetrius I rules as king of Macedon.
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288 BCEWhen his army deserts him Demetrius I flees Macedon.
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285 BCEDemetrius I surrenders to Seleucus I and lives as a prsioner for three years until his death.
