Antigonus II GonatasArticle Free Pass Antigonus II was the son
of Demetrius I Poliorcetes and grandson of Antigonus I. While
Demetrius was busy fighting in Macedonia and Asia Minor,
Antigonus, as his regent, was engaged in maintaining Macedonian
hegemony in Greece, which had been achieved in 287 bc. Demetrius
was taken prisoner in 285 by Seleucus I, who then claimed the
Macedonian kingship. This contested title was assumed by
Antigonus himself on the death of his father two years later;
however, he did not count the beginning of his reign until 276.
Although he had only a few bases in Greece, Antigonus laid claim
to Macedonia when Seleucus was murdered in 281. His claim was
disputed by Seleucus’ successor, Antiochus I. Antigonus took
part in the defense of Greece against the invading Celts (279).
In the following year he concluded a peace with Antiochus,
surrendering his claim to Macedonia. Thereafter Antigonus’
foreign policy was marked by friendship with the Seleucids. In
277 he crossed the Hellespont and d