ANTIGONUS, one of the generals of Alexander the Great, is generally supposed to have been an illegitimate son of Philip, the father of Alexander. In the division of the provinces, which took place after Alexander's death, Antigonus received, as his portion, Lycia, Phry gia, and Pamphylia. His great abilities, and ambitious spirit, excited the jealousy and alarmed the fears of Perdiccas, who made an attempt to deprive him of his government, and to take away his life. He was sup ported, however, by the powerful aid of Ptolemy and Antipater ; and, after the death of Perdiccas, he became still more formidable by the accession of Lycaonia to his dominions, and by his being entrusted with the com mand of the Macedonian houshold troops. He very soon began to give sufficient indications of his plans of usur pation, against the children of Alexander ; but, for the space of three years, his purposes were prevented, and his whole power defied by the brave and faithful Eu menes, governor of Cappadocia. After having reduced, by the help of treachery, this his most intrepid oppo nent, whom he cruelly starved to death, and having sub jected to his sway all the other governors of Upper Asia, he directed his arms against Seleucus, in Baby lon, who was supported by Lysimachus, Cassandcr, and Ptolemy, but who was compelled at last to seek refuge in Egypt. Several treaties were made and violated by these rival chiefs, and their several arms were attended with various success, but the contest was at length decided by Demetrius, the son of Antigonus, who de feated the Egyptian fleet in the neighbourhood of Cy prus, destroyed 200 ships, and took 16,000 prisoners. After this victory, Antigonus and Demetrius assumed the title of kings ; and their example was speedily fol lowed by the other successors of Alexander. Seleucus, Cassander, Lysimachus, and Ptolemy, soon found suf ficient reasons, to enter into a new combination. Anti gonus gave his son Demetrius the command of a pow erful fleet ; and himself, at the head of a numerous army, made an attempt to enter Egypt, threatening to disperse.
his enemies like a flock of birds. But his efforts were not attended with his usual success ; and, after being joined by Demetrius, who had made an equally unavail ing attack upon Rhodes, he marched their united forces into Phrygia. They met the confederates at Ipsus, and a decisive battle was fought. Antigonus was aware of his hazard, and appeared to anticipate the issue. Before the engagement he was unusually thoughtful and silent, and publicly presented Demetrius to the army, as his successor. Ile fell, covered with wounds, in the 80th year of his age, B. C. 301.
Antigonus, before his death, was master of all Asia Minor, as far as Syria, and possessed great influence among the different states of Greece. He was particu larly generous towards the Athenians ; and was held by them in the highest esteem. He was a man of insatia ble ambition, and of ardent passions ; but was very at tentive to promote the interest, and to conciliate the affections, of those whom he subdued. He was a brave and skilful commander, and very strict in maintaining the discipline of his army. He is said to have discharged, on one occasion, a number of his officers, because they were too often found in the tavern ; and to have bestow ed their commissions upon private soldiers, who were punctual in their duties. He often rejected the incense of flattery, and, when a certain poet once addressed him as a god, his answer was, that his servants knew better. He administered public justice with impartiality ; and was eminent for many domestic virtues. Strab. 13. Diod. Sic. 17. Justin, 13, 14, 15. Nepos,.Eumenes, Plu tarch, Demet. Lumen. and sirat. Rollin, v. 353, vi. 101. .lncient Univers. Hist. vol. vii. p. 443, vol. viii. p. 1. (q)