ANTIGONUS GONATUS, son of Demetrius Poliorcetes, was the grandson of the former Antigonus. His character was eminently distinguished by humanity and mildness of disposition. When he besieged Thebes under the command of his father, he strongly remonstrated against the loss of so many lives for such an insignificant object. Filial affection was so powerful in his mind, that when his father was taken prisoner by Seleucus, he generously offered himself in his stead, and being rejected, he wore deep mourning, and refrained from all festivals and amusements during his father's imprisonment. Informed of his death, all the floods of sorrow burst from his tender heart, and failing with a fleet to meet his ashes, he received them with all the demonstrations of filial sensibility and dutiful respect. By the death of his father he became master of all the European dominions of Demetrius, together with the kingdom of Macedon and various other cities in Greece. The Gauls invading his country, he defeated and expelled them, but was soon after routed by Pyrrhus king of Epirus. Some time after, however, Pyrrhus was slain at Argos, and when his head was brought him by his son, he expressed the highest displeasure, and throwing his robe over it, he gave orders to search for his body, and to inter the same with all funeral honours. With singular kindness, also, he treated Helenus, the son of that unfortunate king, who fell into his hands by the fortune of war.
In the evening of his reign, he so cultivated the arts of peace, and so conciliated the minds of his subjects, that he secured their affections both to himself and his descendants. The taking of the citadel of Corinth by intrigue was the meanest act of his reign, but he improved that event in maintaining the freedom of the small states of Greece, and in increasing his own dominions. The Achaeans, and Aratus, their famous chief, vigorously opposed his measures, and at length recovered Corinth; but Antigonus was so inclined to peace, that notwithstanding this event, he pursued his wonted plan, and left his kingdom in peace about the 80th year of his life, and the 34th of his reign, B. C. 243; and Demetrius II. his son, next ascended the throne. (Gen. Biog.)