Family background

Yuan Shao was born in Ruyang County (汝陽縣), Runan Commandery, which is in present-day Shangshui County, Henan. His family had for over four generations been a prominent force in the Han civil service, having produced numerous members in high positions since the first century CE. Descended from Yuan An, who served during the reign of Emperor Zhang, Yuan Shao's exact parentage was the source of some controversy, being one of the primary points of contention between himself and his half-brother, or cousin, Yuan Shu. Yuan Shao was a son of Yuan Feng (袁逢) and the eldest sibling, supposedly to the ire of Yuan Shu. Both Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu are recognised as great-grandsons of Yuan An, as recorded in Wang Shen's Book of Wei (魏書).

Yuan Shao's mother was originally a servant of Yuan Feng. Since Yuan Feng lacked male heirs, the birth of Yuan Shao elevated his mother to the status of a concubine. The Records of the Three Kingdoms contend that Yuan Shao was in fact an older cousin of Yuan Shu, and was adopted by the elder brother of Yuan Feng, Yuan Cheng, who also lacked male heirs. The act of adopting Yuan Shao would have infuriated Yuan Shu, because his own mother, a concubine of Yuan Feng, held a higher status than that of Yuan Shao's mother; however, by Yuan Cheng's adoption of Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu was no longer the eldest son of the Yuan family. Yuan Shao enjoyed more privileges than Yuan Shu, despite the latter being a blood-related member of the clan.

When Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu became involved in disputes later, Yuan Shu used Yuan Shao's mother as an excuse to claim that he was not a "true son" of the Yuan family. When compared to Yuan Shu, Yuan Shao had a more serious appearance and respected men of talent regardless of their background; as such, he was welcomed by many since his childhood, including Cao Cao and Zhang Miao.

Service under the Han dynasty (–189)

When Yuan Shao was young, he participated in saving some of the "partisans" from death or other terrible fates during the second of the Disasters of Partisan Prohibitions. After he entered the civil service, Yuan Shao initially served as an aide to General-in-Chief He Jin, who deeply trusted him.

After the death of Emperor Ling in 189, He Jin and Yuan Shao plotted to eliminate the eunuch faction, but Empress Dowager He was against their idea. He Jin then summoned Dong Zhuo to lead troops into the imperial capital, Luoyang, to pressure the empress dowager. The eunuchs became fearful and they forged an edict in the empress dowager's name, summoning He Jin into the inner palace. Yuan Shao cautioned He Jin, reminding him that he should order an attack on the eunuchs instead of entering the palace. After He Jin refused to accept his advice thrice, Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu led 200 elite troops to wait outside. On 22 September 189, inside the palace, He Jin was ambushed and assassinated by the eunuchs, who tossed his severed head over the wall. He Jin's angered followers set fire to the palace and charged in, slaughtering every person (except females) without facial hair; to the extreme that many young men without facial hair had to show their genitals to avoid being mistaken for eunuchs and killed. Over 2,000 people were killed in the massacre, while the young Emperor Shao and Prince of Chenliu (future Emperor Xian) escaped during the chaos. The resulting power vacuum provided Dong Zhuo, who found and rescued the emperor and prince, with an opportunity to seize control of the imperial capital when he arrived.

Dong Zhuo then discussed with Yuan Shao about his plan to depose Emperor Shao and replace him with the Prince of Chenliu, but Yuan Shao disagreed. Relations between the two deteriorated and Yuan Shao fled from Luoyang to Ji Province (present day southern Hebei). At the time, Yuan Shao just got out through the city gates of Luoyang, Dong Zhuo thought about sending men after him, but Zhou Bi, Wu Qiong and He Yong secretly helped Yuan Shao by convincing Dong Zhuo to let him go. As suggested by the three men, Dong Zhuo appointed Yuan Shao as the Administrator of Bohai Commandery in a bid to appease him.

Coalition against Dong Zhuo (190–191)

Sun Jians advancement

By early 190, however, Yuan became openly hostile. A coalition of regional officials and commanders from the eastern provinces, including Cao Cao, Yuan Shu, Han Fu, Zhang Miao and Bao Xin, formed up behind him in a campaign to oust Dong Zhuo. Yuan Shao declared himself General of Chariots and Cavalry (車騎將軍) and camped at Henei (河內), near a ford on the Yellow River just north of Luoyang. Dong Zhuo ordered the execution of all members of the Yuan clan in Luoyang, and sent out emissaries with imperial edicts ordering the regional officials to disband. However, members of the coalition listened to Yuan Shao, and had all the emissaries executed instead (except Han Rong). Dong Zhuo then sent Hu Zhen, Lü Bu and Hua Xiong to deter the coalition vanguard led by Sun Jian. Despite initial success, Sun was able to capitalise on the internal conflict between Hu Zhen and Lü Bu and defeated them at Yangren. After that loss, Dong Zhuo decided to move the imperial capital to Chang'an, where his home base of Liang Province was nearby. A year later, Dong Zhuo burnt Luoyang to the ground and withdrew to the west with the mass of refugees. Although lacking a logistical base, Sun Jian and Cao Cao requested to pursue Dong Zhuo's retreating force, but Yuan Shao and other members largely disagreed with their opinion. Sun Jian was ordered to rendezvous with Yuan Shu, so Cao Cao led his own men to go on the pursuit alone, and was soundly defeated by Dong Zhuo's subordinate, Xu Rong.

Dissolution

During this time, Yuan Shao and Han Fu had intended to establish the legitimacy of the coalition by declaring Liu Yu, the governor of You Province (present day northern Hebei), the new emperor to replace Emperor Xian. However, believing that it would be faithless to Emperor Xian for him to accept, Liu Yu declined the offer. When the scene of the ruined capital coming into their eyes, the disunited leaders of the coalition realised that the Han dynasty was coming to an end, and started planning on strengthening their position, and soon returned to their respective home bases.

Unifying northern China (191–199)

Acquisition and consolidation of Ji Province (191)

As many volunteers from different provinces had flocked to join Yuan Shao, Bohai Commandery would be far from sufficient to supply his army. Thus, Pang Ji suggested to Yuan Shao to form a secret alliance with the warlord Gongsun Zan and incite the latter to attack Han Fu's Ji Province. Facing an imminent attack from Gongsun Zan, Han Fu was terrified so he listened to Yuan Shao's lobbyists, Gao Gan (Yuan Shao's nephew) and Xun Chen, to give up the governorship of Ji Province to Yuan Shao in order to drive back Gongsun Zan. Yuan Shao then began to build a warlord state from Ye, the capital of Ji Province. In order to curtail Yuan Shu's sphere of influence, Yuan Shao formed an alliance with Cao Cao and Zhang Miao, and named his follower, Zhou Yu (周喁) as the Inspector of Yu Province, a title to which Sun Jian had already been entitled, and sent him to attack Sun Jian's territories in Yu Province while the latter was on his way back from Luoyang. In response, Yuan Shu allied with Gongsun Zan and Tao Qian, and ordered Sun Jian to fight his half-brother.

Although Zhou Yu managed to defeat the forces of Sun Jian in the Battle of Yangcheng, he lost to Sun Jian in the following battles. The first battles between the brothers ended in Yuan Shu's favour: he had engaged and defeated Yuan Shao's forces in both Yangcheng and Jiujiang, restored the position in Yingchuan Commandery under Sun Jian, and eliminated Zhou Yu as a threat once and for all although Jiujiang was not yet conquered. For Yuan Shao, on the other hand, the situation was extremely difficult: besides the failure in the south, he was also under threat from Gongsun Zan, who held Yuan Shao responsible for the death of his cousin Gongsun Yue in battle and formally declared war against him, rejecting all of Yuan Shao's protestations of goodwill. This led to the clash between Yuan Shao and Gongsun in the Battle of Jieqiao.

The Battle of Yangcheng, being the first move in the struggle between the two Yuans, marked the beginning of a new stage in the confusion of wars which brought about the end of the Han dynasty. This internecine struggle confirmed the undoing of the alliance against Dong Zhuo as the warlords of the North China Plain started to battle each other for the ultimate dominion of China.

In order to focus on the conflicts with Gongsun Zan, Yuan Shao entered into a general alliance with Liu Biao against Yuan Shu. In the winter of that year, Yuan Shao defeated Gongsun Zan's elite cavalry at the Battle of Jieqiao with the use of massed crossbowmen. The Han imperial court issued an edict ordering Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan to cease fire. Yuan Shao then returned to Ye and started targeting the Heishan bandits, who had been causing trouble in Ji Province. With temporary aid from Lü Bu, Yuan Shao managed to defeat the Heishan bandits despite suffering heavy casualties. In any case, Yuan Shao succeeded in drastically reducing the threat posed by the Heishan bandits to his western flank.

Conquest of Qing Province (192–196)

Despite warnings from Ju Shou that the move could sow seeds for future trouble, Yuan Shao insisted on sending his first-born son, Yuan Tan, away to "govern" Qing Province.

In subsequent years, Yuan Shao achieved considerable success in consolidating his domain. At the same time, Yuan Tan also achieved exceptional success on expanding his territories in Qing Province, driving out Gongsun Zan's general Tian Kai in 193 and defeating Beihai chancellor Kong Rong in 196.

Refusal to host the emperor (195–196)

In 195, Ju Shou suggested to Yuan Shao to welcome Emperor Xian to Ji Province so he could effectively control the Han central government and use the emperor as a figurehead to enhance his legitimacy. However, Guo Tu and Chunyu Qiong opposed this move under the faulty logic that if Yuan Shao were to do so, he would have to yield to Emperor Xian on key decisions. Yuan Shao, valuing his autonomy, listened to Guo Tu and Chunyu Qiong and let the opportunity pass by. In contrast, his would-be rival, Cao Cao used the opportunity to welcome Emperor Xian to his base in Xuchang, where the new imperial capital was established.

In 196, the Han imperial court, under Cao Cao's control, awarded Yuan Shao the appointment of Grand Commandant. However, Yuan Shao rejected the appointment because Grand Commandant ranked below General-in-Chief, the position held by Cao Cao. As a result, Cao Cao gave up his position and offered it to Yuan Shao, who readily accepted it. Yuan Shao was also enfeoffed as the Marquis of Ye.

Annihilation of Gongsun Zan (198–199)

In 198, Yuan Shao advanced against Gongsun Zan and encircled his remaining force at Yijing (present-day Xiong County, Hebei). By early 199, Yuan Shao had completely defeated Gongsun Zan at the Battle of Yijing and held absolute power over the four provinces north of the Yellow River. Then, after establishing an alliance with the Wuhuan tribes on the northern frontier, Yuan Shao turned his attention to Cao Cao, who had consolidated his own power base to the south of the Yellow River.

Guandu Campaign (199–201)

Both sides made preparations for a decisive battle. Towards the end of 199, both sides had already engaged in skirmishes at Liyang (northwest of present-day Xun County, Henan), a major crossing point of the Yellow River. Cao Cao prepared his defences around Guandu (northeast of present-day Zhongmu County, Henan), slightly south of the river. When Liu Bei defected from Cao Cao in the first month of 200 and planted a foothold in Xu Province, Cao Cao left his northern front exposed to Yuan Shao and turned east to deal with Liu Bei. Tian Feng urged Yuan Shao to seize the opportunity to attack Cao Cao while he was away, but Yuan Shao refused to launch an all-out offensive. Instead, he sent small detachments to harass his enemy. Yu Jin, the general appointed by Cao Cao to defend Yan Ford, defeated Yuan Shao's detachments.

Shortly after Cao Cao returned to Guandu, Yuan Shao had Chen Lin draft a document condemning Cao Cao in what was essentially a declaration of war. He then marched his main army towards the forward base of Liyang north of the Yellow River. At the time, Yuan Shao's main veteran army boasted of numbers over 100,000, supplemented with hundreds of thousands of less skilled militia units. Heavily outnumbering Cao Cao and holding large cavalry force, Yuan Shao's initial attacks almost overwhelmed his enemy's positions. It is recorded in the Records of the Three Kingdoms that Cao Cao on several occasions considered relinquishing his position, and consulted his chief strategist, Xun Yu on that decision, which Xun strongly opposed and further encouraged Cao to hold on. Following an unexpected defection of one of Yuan Shao's strategists and personal friends, Xu You, Cao Cao received confidential information on the whereabouts of Yuan Shao's food storage. In late 200, Cao Cao and Yue Jin led a strike force to attack Yuan Shao's supply depot at Wuchao and burnt it down, inflicting severe damage on the morale of Yuan Shao's army. Two of Yuan Shao's officers, Zhang He and Gao Lan, immediately defected to Cao Cao's side once they got wind of what happened in Wuchao, and many others followed suit. Yuan Shao was unable to stop the trend and fled north across the Yellow River with only hundreds of loyalists.

Yuan Shao's first major defeat was also a decisive one. Thereafter, he lost the advantage over Cao Cao and never regained it. In 201, Cao Cao defeated him again at the Battle of Cangting and proceeded to capture several of Yuan Shao's territories in Ji Province.

Futile effort to turn the tide and death (201–202)

After the Battle of Cangting, Cao Cao's exhausted troops returned to the south for a rest. Meanwhile, Yuan Shao was able to reorganise his defeated armies to settle the rebellions in his own domain, soon reestablishing order and restored the status quo ante bellum. Yuan Shao had three sons, and he favoured his third son, Yuan Shang, due to his good looks, and both Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang were his choice for succession. However, Yuan was never able to finalise his decision regarding who should succeed him before he died in on 28 June 202, leaving his domain to be contested by his sons and Cao Cao.

Immediately after Yuan Shao's death, Shen Pei and Pang Ji, two influential advisers, supported Yuan Shang and pushed for him to succeed Yuan Shao, despite opposition from Yuan Tan. Yuan Shao's wife, Lady Liu, supported Yuan Shang, and Yuan Tan could not do anything to change the outcome when he rushed back from Qing Province. Then, Lady Liu, being in control of the Yuan household after her husband's death, killed Yuan Shao's other five consorts out of jealousy and disfigured them. True to Ju Shou's previous warning, chaos ensued within Yuan Shao's forces. Cao Cao exploited the internal turmoil within the Yuan family to his advantage and completely eliminated Yuan Shao's heirs and remnants by 207.

Cao Cao paid his respects at Yuan Shao's tomb after conquering Ye city in 204. He wept bitterly for his old friend in front of his followers and gave Yuan Shao's family consolatory gifts and a government pension.

Family

• Ancestors:

　• Yuan An, great-great-grandfather, served as Excellency over the Masses, and Excellency of Works

　• Yuan Jing (袁京), great-grandfather, served as Excellency of Works

　• Yuan Tang (袁湯), grandfather, served as Excellency over the Masses, Excellency of Works, and Grand Commandant

• Father: Yuan Feng (袁逢), served as Excellency of Works

• Siblings:

　• Yuan Ji (袁基), elder half-brother, served as Minister Coachman

　• Yuan Shu, younger half-brother, warlord, declared himself Emperor of Zhong later

• Spouses:

　• Principal wife, bore Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi

　• Lady Liu, bore Yuan Shang

　• Five other concubines, all killed by Lady Liu

• Children:

　• Yuan Tan, eldest son, waged war on Yuan Shang after his father's death, killed by Cao Cao

　• Yuan Xi, second son, moved to You Province after Yuan Shao's death, later fled to Liaodong with Yuan Shang, killed by Gongsun Kang

　• Yuan Shang, third son, Yuan Shao's successor, waged war on Yuan Tan after his father's death, fled to Liaodong with Yuan Xi, killed by Gongsun Kang

• Relatives:

　• Yuan Wei (袁隗), uncle, served as Excellency over the Masses, and Grand Tutor

　• Yuan Cheng (袁成), uncle

　• Yuan Yi, elder cousin, served as Prefect of Chang'an, and Inspector of Yang Province

　• Yuan Xu (袁敘), younger cousin

　• Yuan Yin (袁胤), younger cousin, served as Administrator of Danyang

　• Yuan Manlai (袁滿來), cousin

　• Yuan Yida (袁懿達), cousin

　• Yuan Renda (袁仁達), cousin

　• Gao Gan, nephew

In popular culture

Yuan Shao is featured as a playable character in Koei's Dynasty Warriors and Warriors Orochi video game series. He also appears in all instalments of Koei's Romance of the Three Kingdoms strategy game series. He also has a minor role in Koei's Kessen II. Yuan Shao also appears as a playable faction leader in the Creative Assembly title Total War: Three Kingdoms. He plays a major role in the Three Kingdoms (TV series) as a reappearing character.

生平

四世三公

袁紹出自著名士族汝南袁氏，高祖袁安官至司空、司徒，叔曾祖袁敞官至司空，祖父袁湯官至司空、司徒、太尉，生父袁逢官至司空，叔叔袁隗官至司徒、太傅，家族中四世居三公之位者多達五人，故號稱「四世三公」，門生故吏遍布天下。袁山松書記載，袁紹為袁逢的庶子，因袁逢的兄長左中郎將袁成早逝，袁逢將袁紹過繼給袁成。袁逢另有二子袁基、袁術，所以在血緣上，袁紹及袁基、袁術是同父異母的親兄弟，由宗法繼承權關係來看，也可視為堂兄弟。

袁紹的母親僅是個婢女，早年袁紹的地位頗見低微。《典略》載瓚表紹罪狀曰：「紹母親為婢使，紹實微賤，不可以為人後，以義不宜，乃據豐隆之重任，忝污王爵，損辱袁宗，紹罪九也。」

袁紹父親袁成喜歡結交當時上層門閥的豪爽之士，自大將軍梁冀以下的很多人都與他交往。袁紹有著不錯的外貌，同樣也結交了很多士人。袁紹年紀很小就擔任郎官，之後升遷為濮陽長。因為母親去世，棄官守喪，為母親服喪三年結束後，袁紹又為先前去世的嗣父袁成服喪三年。六年守喪結束後袁紹在洛陽隱居，結交遊俠，拒絕朝廷徵召，此舉引發中常侍趙忠不滿。後來袁紹在叔父袁隗勸說下出仕，擔任大將軍何進的掾，又為侍御史、虎賁中郎將。

188年（中平五年），朝廷任命小黃門蹇碩、虎賁中郎將袁紹、鮑鴻、議郎曹操、趙融、馮芳、夏牟、淳于瓊等八人共組成西園八校尉，其中袁紹被舉薦為中軍校尉，成為漢靈帝新建立的西園軍的副領袖。

誅殺宦官

當時宦官在朝廷氣勢已盛，而何進身兼外戚（何皇后之兄）已與宦官對立。袁紹曾建議何進引誘撲殺宦官，何進猶豫不決，反被宦官知悉、搶先殺死何進。袁紹遂依自己當初的想法，名正言順率兵入洛陽南宮內殺絕閹官。此時董卓正好響應何進生前的密謀號召，藉口帶西涼兵團入京衛戍。

聯軍反董

董卓趁朝廷大亂時收編大將軍何進與其弟車騎將軍何苗所遺之部曲，又收呂布、施計並執金吾（京城警備司令）丁原之眾，召袁紹與之謀廢漢少帝劉辯，改立漢獻帝劉協。

袁紹儘管暗中不滿，但仍偽許之，然後亡奔冀州。董卓深知袁氏「門生故吏滿天下」的威脅性，怕袁紹「收豪傑以聚徒眾，英雄因之而起」，不斥其罪，反而封他為勃海太守、邟鄉侯。

由於董卓廢少帝有逆當代的人臣之倫，袁紹因此在渤海起兵，自號車騎將軍。初平元年（190年）正月，關東諸侯同時起兵，眾各數萬，共推袁紹為盟主。董卓的先鋒部隊被孫堅打敗後，畏懼聯軍的聲勢浩大，放棄洛陽並強遷京師至長安。各路勤王而來的關東諸侯則因互不協調，不合而散。

統一河北

在討伐董卓之後，袁紹用計奪取了韓馥的冀州，開始在華北擴張勢力。隨後幾年間，在追隨者們的輔佐下，先後擊敗了公孫瓚、孔融、張燕等人，掌握了冀州以及青州、并州、幽州三州大部分人口的地盤，雄霸河北，擁有數十萬左右的大軍，是當時全中國最強的軍閥。袁紹與公孫瓚作戰，趙雲殺入袁紹軍中，袁紹大呼：「大丈夫願臨陣鬥死，豈可入墻而望活乎！」同時袁紹也介入山東地區的戰事，幫助曹操打敗了呂布、張邈等勢力，派臧洪為東郡太守。但臧洪卻因故主張超被曹操攻殺時袁紹不肯相救而背叛袁紹，袁紹歷時兩年才攻破東郡。臧洪不肯複歸袁紹，遂被袁紹處決。

當獻帝逃出被李傕和郭汜控制的長安逃到洛陽時，袁紹的重要謀士沮授建議尊迎皇帝到鄴城，但郭圖和淳于瓊認為漢朝衰微、群雄並起，若迎接天子遇事總要上表，聽則權輕，違背則抗命，由此不認同沮授的建議。由於袁紹鄙視董卓所擁立的獻帝，曾密謀推舉幽州牧劉虞為帝，但沒有成功。袁紹的主薄耿苞向袁紹表示漢朝氣數已盡，袁氏應順應天意取而代之；袁紹將耿苞的意見告訴自己的手下試探輿論，結果眾人認為耿苞是在妖言惑眾應該處死，袁紹不得已只好處死耿苞來解套。此時曹操則採納軍師荀彧的建議，搶先將獻帝迎到許都，奉戴天子並以朝廷名義向諸侯發號施令。此時袁紹亦有迎駕之意，但因與公孫瓚作戰又遭到臧洪的背叛，分身乏術，故派從事中郎徐勛請曹操代為迎駕，並派手下應劭去朝廷制定典章。曹操迎駕後以獻帝名義以袁紹為太尉，袁紹認為自己位在時任大將軍的曹操之下而不肯受命，怒道：「曹操好幾次該死了，我救活了他，現在就背恩挾天子以令我了嗎！」因此曹操便讓出大將軍之位，改以袁紹為大將軍，封鄴侯，派將作大匠孔融持節去鄴城給袁紹封拜官爵，袁紹才作罷，雖然推辭了鄴侯的封爵，但最終也接受了。

後曹操討伐劉備時，田豐建議袁紹趁機偷襲許都，袁紹以小兒子生病為由拒絕了田豐的意見，田豐當場以杖擊地：「蒼天啊！為了一個孩兒放棄良機！」袁紹雖拒絕田豐建議，但仍派出將領出兵延津，卻被曹操部將于禁所阻。後來袁紹終於出兵攻許都以爭獻帝，因此引發官渡之戰。

兵敗官渡

建安五年（200年），袁紹率十餘萬大軍進攻曹操；官渡之戰初，謀士沮授建議袁紹採取持久戰略但不被袁紹採納；另一謀士許攸建議袁紹派兵襲擊許都亦不被袁紹接受，此時許攸剛好因家屬犯罪被袁紹處刑，使許攸對袁紹懷恨在心，遂投奔曹操。

許攸向曹操建議，派兵襲擊袁紹遠征軍的軍糧所在地烏巢。曹操聞之大喜，於是親率奇兵攻擊烏巢，當時守護烏巢的是淳于瓊；由於事發突然，張郃向袁紹建議派大軍救援輜重糧草的重地烏巢，但袁紹只派輕騎去救援烏巢，而淳于瓊未先加以防範，結果曹軍樂進率軍很快地攻陷了烏巢陣地，燒掉了袁紹軍所有的軍糧草石並斬殺淳于瓊。烏巢淪陷後使袁紹軍士氣大挫，此前田豐等人數度獻策不被袁紹採納成了關鍵。之後袁紹統治的冀州多叛但仍得以平定。

建安六年（201年），袁紹試圖重振旗鼓，與曹操爆發倉亭之戰，但再度戰敗。自軍敗慚憤，發病嘔血，於建安七年五月廿一日庚戌（202年6月28日）離開人世，《獻帝春秋》記載在他死時「河北士女莫不傷怨，市巷揮淚，如或喪親。」

評價

• 趙忠：「袁本初坐作聲價，好養死士，不知此兒終欲何作。」（《三國志·魏書·董二袁劉傳第六》）

• 董卓：「但殺二袁兒，則天下自服矣。」（《後漢紀·孝獻皇帝紀卷第二十六》）

• 荀諶：「袁氏一時之傑。」（《資治通鑑·卷第六十》）

• 鮑信：「袁紹為盟主，因權奪利，將自生亂，是複有一卓也。」（《資治通鑑·卷第六十》）

• 沮授：「將軍弱冠登朝，則播名海內；值廢立之際，則忠義奮發；單騎出奔，則董卓懷怖；濟河而北，則勃海稽首。振一郡之卒，撮冀州之眾，威震河朔，名重天下。」（《後漢書·袁紹劉表列傳第六十四下》）

• 公孫瓚：「袁氏之攻，似若神鬼，鼓角鳴于地中，梯衝舞吾樓上。」（《三國志·魏書·二公孫陶四張傳第八》）

• 袁術：「今君擁有四州，民戶百萬，以強則無與比大，論德則無與比高。」（《三國志·魏書·董二袁劉傳第六》）

• 和洽：「本初乘資，雖能強大，然雄豪方起，全未可必也。」（《三國志·魏書·和常楊杜趙裴傳第二十三》）

• 曹操：「吾知紹之為人，志大而智小，色厲而膽薄，忌克而少威，兵多而分畫不明，將驕而政令不一，土地雖廣，糧食雖豐，適足以為吾奉也」，「袁紹雖有大志，而見事遲」「及至袁紹據河北，兵勢強盛，孤自度勢，實不敵之。」（《讓縣自明本志令》）

• 荀彧：「布衣之雄耳，能聚人而不能用」「紹貌外寬而內忌，任人而疑其心」、「紹遲重少決，失在後機」、「紹御軍寬緩，法令不立，士卒雖眾，其實難用」、「紹憑世資，從容飾智，以收名譽，故士之寡能好問者多歸之」「兵雖多而法不整」

• 荀攸：「紹以寬厚得眾心。」（《資治通鑑·卷第六十四》）

• 程昱：「夫袁紹據燕、趙之地，有並天下之心，而智不能濟也。」（《三國志·魏書·程郭董劉蔣劉傳第十四》）

• 郭嘉：「袁公徒欲效周公之下士，而未知用人之機。多端寡要，好謀無決，欲與共濟天下大難，定霸王之業，難矣！」「袁紹有恩于民夷。」（《三國志·魏書·程郭董劉蔣劉傳第十四》）

• 王粲：「袁紹有姿貌、威容，愛士養名。既累世台司，賓客所歸，加以傾心折節，莫不爭赴其庭，士無貴賤，與之抗禮。」（《英雄記》）

• 楊阜：「袁公寬而不斷，好謀而少決；不斷則無威，少決則失後事，今雖強，終不能成大業。」（《三國志·魏書·辛毗楊阜高堂隆傳第二十五》）

• 孫權：「老賊欲廢漢自立久矣，徒忌二袁、呂布、劉表與孤耳。」（《三國志·吳書九·周瑜魯肅呂蒙傳第九》）

• 曹丕：「紹遇因運，得收英雄之謀，假士民之力，東苞巨海之實，西舉全晉之地，南阻白渠黃河，北有勁弓胡馬，地方二千里，眾數十萬，可謂威矣。當此之時，無敵于天下，視霸王易于覆手，而不能抑遏愚妻，顯別嫡庶，婉戀私愛，寵子以貌；其後敗績喪師，身以疾死，邪臣飾奸，二子相屠，墳土未乾，而宗廟為墟，其誤至矣。」（《典論》）

• 臧洪：「諸袁事漢，四世五公，可謂受恩。今王室衰弱，無扶翼之意，欲因際會，希冀非望，多殺忠良以立姦威。洪親見呼張陳留為兄，則洪府君亦宜為弟，同共戮力，為國除害，何為擁眾觀人屠滅！惜洪力劣，不能推刃為天下報仇，何謂服乎！」

• 陳容：「將軍舉大事，欲為天下除暴，而專先誅忠義，豈合天意！臧洪發舉為郡將，奈何殺之！」

• 《獻帝春秋》：「紹為人政寬，百姓德之。河北士女莫不傷怨，市巷揮淚，如或喪親。」

• 范曄：「袁紹初以豪俠得眾，遂懷雄霸之圖，天下勝兵舉旗者，莫不假以為名。及臨場決敵，則悍夫爭命；深籌高議，則智士傾心。盛哉乎，其所資也！」「紹外寬雅有局度，憂喜不形于色，而性矜愎自高，短于從善，故至于敗。」「紹姿弘雅，表亦長者。稱雄河外，擅強南夏。魚儷漢舳，雲屯冀馬。窺圖訊鼎，禋天類社。既雲天工，亦資人亮。矜強少成，坐談奚望。回皇塚嬖，身穨業喪。」（《後漢書·袁紹劉表列傳第六十四下》）

• 陳壽：「袁紹、劉表，咸有威容、器觀，知名當世。表跨蹈漢南，紹鷹揚河朔，然皆外寬內忌，好謀無決，有才而不能用，聞善而不能納，廢嫡立庶，舍禮崇愛，至于後嗣顛蹙，社稷傾覆，非不幸也。昔項羽背范增之謀，以喪其王業；紹之殺田豐，乃甚於羽遠矣！」

• 常璩：「漢末大亂，雄桀並起。若董卓、呂布、二袁、韓、馬、張楊、劉表之徒，兼州連郡，眾逾萬計，叱吒之間，皆自謂漢祖可踵，桓、文易邁。」（《華陽國志·卷六·劉先主志》）

• 柳莊：「昔袁紹、劉表、王凌、諸葛誕，皆一時雄傑，據要地，擁強兵。」（《資治通鑑·卷第一百七十四》）

• 蘇夔：「近者劉荊州之意氣，袁渤海之縱橫，當其吐納荊揚，鞭笞河朔，猛將厲于鵰鶚，謀臣盛于雲雨，從容嘯吒，有席捲八荒之心，固以震倘肆椋熏灼宇宙者。」（《全隋文·卷二十七》）

• 趙蕤：「袁本初虎視河朔；劉景升鵲起荊州；馬超、韓遂，雄據於關西；呂布、陳宮，竊命於東夏；遼河海岱，王公十數，皆阻兵百萬、鐵騎千群，合縱締交，為一時之傑也。」（《長短經·卷六·霸紀下》）

• 魏元忠：「假有項籍之氣，袁紹之基，而皆泯智任情，終以破滅，何況複出其下哉。」（《舊唐書·列傳第四十二》）

• 何去非：「昔者東漢之微，豪傑並起而爭天下，人各操其所爭之資。蓋二袁以勢，呂布以勇，曹公以智，劉備、孫權各挾其智勇之微而不全者也。」「方二袁之起，借其世資以撼天下。紹舉四州之眾，南向而逼官渡；術據南陽，以擾江淮，遂竊大號；呂布驍勇，轉斗無前而爭袞州。方是之時，天下之窺曹公，疑不複振。而人之所以爭附而樂赴者，袁、呂而已。」「袁紹雖非曹公之敵，亦所謂一時之豪傑，橫大河之北，奄四州之土，南向而爭天下，一旦摧敗，卒以憂死。」（何博士備論）

• 秦觀：方紹與董卓異議，橫刀不應長揖而出，及起兵渤海，遂有四州之地，連百萬之眾，威震河朔名重天下，不可謂非一時之傑也。然殺一田豐遂至于此，則天下之禍其有大于殺士者乎。

• 郝經：「袁氏奕世公鼎，高風義軌，冠冕海內。紹資望夙著。一旦提劍而起，汛除閹豎，肅清宮闈。心不義卓，投袂而起，則有英雄之志矣。于是山東討賊推為盟主，河朔服義讓以方州，卒連幽并青冀，橫制天下之半，材勇效命，智謀貢策，翼戴天子而加之以共則桓文之舉也。乃猜忌自用，潛懷不軌，稽失事機，為操所先忿兵犯順折衂以死，幼長倒置禍起骨肉，家聲委地咸其自取也。」（《續後漢書》） 「時卓暴戾，氣凌一時，決計廢立而紹忤之，故致忿罵。紹亦一時之傑，揖之而去，亦其宜也。」

• 羅貫中：「累世公卿立大名，少年意氣自縱橫。空招俊傑三千客，漫有英雄百萬兵。羊質虎皮功不就，鳳毛雞膽事難成。更憐一種傷心處，家難徒延兩弟兄。」

• 王世貞：「古之有天下者，要必有人君之德，而其佐命以功臣終者，要必有人臣之體，人臣之體在才巨而心小其識不凡，而凡不遠而遠乃可保也無君德，而其材非人臣者。偏雄，則項羽、袁紹、李密；委質，則韓信及榮也。」（王弇州崇論卷之四）

• 王夫之：「袁紹雖疏而有略，其規恢較大矣。」（《讀通鑑論》）

• 柳從辰：「卓雖受誅，豪傑並起，跨州連郡如劉虞、公孫瓚、陶謙、袁紹、劉表、劉焉、袁術、呂布者，皆嘗雄視一時，其權力猶足匡正帝室。」

• 呂思勉：「袁紹是曹操的大敵。他不但地廣兵強，在社會上聲望很高，勢力極大，即論其才具，在當時群雄中，亦當首屈一指。」

• 蔡東藩：「況引狼入室，紹實主謀，鮑信進誅卓之方，猶不失為中計，而紹又不能信從；紹非特害進，並且覆漢，其罪亦彌甚矣！」（《後漢演義》）

• 毛澤東：「袁紹這個人多謀寡斷，有謀無斷，沒有決心，不果斷，結果兵敗于官渡。所以有謀還要善斷。」

• 方詩銘：「世族、豪傑、遊俠，是袁紹的優點，也是袁紹的有利條件，以此為憑藉，他得到「名豪大俠，富室強族」的支持，最後雄據河北，成為當時最大的割據者。出身于世族的袁紹，再加上他的遊俠性格和豪傑才能，叱吒風雲，雄據一方。儘管後來支持他的人們，有的相互火併，有的背叛投降，最後使袁氏政權煙消火滅。但是，在東漢末年的戰亂時代，袁紹仍不失為一個傑出的人物。」（《三國人物散論》）

家庭

祖父

• 袁湯

父親

• 袁成（養父）

• 袁逢（親生父親）

兄弟

• 袁基（紹之同父兄，宗法論為從兄），與袁隗一同被董卓所害，漢太僕。

• 袁術（紹之同父弟，宗法論為從弟），曾趁亂世稱天子，卻得不到支持，最終屢次兵敗後吐血而死。

姐妹

• 袁氏，嫁楊彪

• 袁氏，嫁高躬

妻妾

• 劉夫人（生熙、尚）

• 寵妾五人，被劉夫人所殺

兒女

• 長子袁譚，袁紹死後，為了爭奪父袁紹繼承人之位，而與三弟袁尚互相攻伐，最後為曹操所破。

• 次子袁熙，袁紹死後偏安幽州，後收留投奔而來的三弟袁尚，一同逃到遼東，為公孫康所殺。

• 三子袁尚，袁紹廢長立幼，袁紹死後繼位，為了保存繼承人之位，與長兄袁譚互相攻伐，為曹操所破，投奔袁熙，一同逃到遼東，為公孫康所殺。

• 袁買（袁尚弟，一說袁尚兄子）

族人

• 袁隗，袁紹叔父，在朝廷時被董卓所害。

• 高幹，袁紹的外甥，在袁紹辭世後表面上歸順朝廷，後趁曹操對付袁紹之子袁熙和袁尚時，高幹舉兵叛變，但事敗被殺。

• 袁遺，袁紹堂兄，字伯業，曾任長安令、揚州刺史，最後為袁術所敗，因部下背叛而被殺。曹操稱其「長大而能勤學者，惟吾與袁伯業矣。（白話：年紀漸長仍能堅持好學不倦的，就只有我與袁伯業了。）」

• 袁敘，袁紹堂弟。

• 袁胤，袁紹堂弟，曾任丹楊太守。

• 袁春卿，與袁紹同族。任魏郡（治鄴城）太守。曹操攻鄴時，派人到揚州迎袁春卿之父袁元長，讓董昭勸袁春卿投降。

部下

鄴中

• 沮授，在官渡之戰之前，建議打持久戰，未被採納，官渡之敗後被俘。其後密謀逃回袁紹，事敗被殺。

• 田豐，在官渡之戰之前，建議偷襲許都，袁紹以兒子生病為由拒絕。後被下獄，袁紹官渡失敗後，將田豐殺害。

• 荀諶，荀彧之兄，說服韓馥出讓冀州州牧職位予袁紹。

• 許攸，官渡之戰時其奇襲許昌的建議未被採納，家人犯罪被拘禁引致許攸出賣袁紹，獻計奇襲烏巢。

• 逢紀，向袁紹獻計把冀州鵲巢鳩占，袁紹死後助袁尚繼位。

• 審配，因許攸家人犯罪而作拘禁，令許攸出賣袁紹，引致官渡之敗，袁紹死後助袁尚繼位。

• 郭圖，支持袁譚繼位，南皮城破後，被曹操斬殺一家。

• 辛評，辛毗之兄，因其弟辛毗內通曹操，以通敵的罪名被囚禁。

• 辛毗，被袁譚派遣向曹操求援，辛毗反而建議應以此機會吞併河北。

• 陳琳，「建安七子」之一。袁紹的軍中文書，多出其手。

• 董昭，袁紹任命的魏郡太守。

• 孟岱，與審配有間隙，在官渡之戰失敗後，審配的兩個兒子為曹操所用，遂對袁紹說：「配在位專政，族大兵強，且二子在南，必懷反畔。」袁紹因此任命他為監軍，代審配守鄴城。

• 朱漢，袁紹封為都官從事。圍韓馥府第，韓馥要求離開，弄跛韓馥的長子，後為袁紹所殺。

• 慄成，袁紹任命的魏郡太守，被黑山賊所殺。

• 陶升，原是小吏，有善心，曾加入黑山賊，後被袁紹收為部下，不久提拔為建義中郎將。于毒殺慄成後，袁紹和陶升攻殺于毒。

• 周昂，袁紹早期武將，在孫堅攻打董卓期間，被袁紹派與奪取孫堅的屯兵地陽城，射殺公孫瓚之弟公孫越。

• 季雍，袁紹早期武將，後背叛袁紹而降公孫瓚。

• 朱靈，袁紹早期武將，被袁紹派遣攻打背叛袁紹的季雍。曹操討伐陶謙時，奉袁紹之命督三營軍士，趕赴增援曹操，其後留在曹營。

• 淳于瓊，袁紹軍中宿將，官渡之戰期間，為守護烏巢糧倉的主將，後曹軍快速攻陷了烏巢陣地，被樂進所擄獲後處死。

• 麴義，袁紹軍中驍將，在界橋之戰中，屢次大破公孫瓚軍，因恃功而驕恣，後為袁紹所殺。

• 崔巨業，袁紹大將，領兵圍故安，被公孫瓚在巨馬水之戰中所大破。

• 顏良，袁紹軍中名將，在白馬之戰中，顏良軍因孤立作戰，被在曹軍中的關羽所斬殺。

• 文醜，袁紹軍中名將，在顏良被殺後，於延津之戰中，與劉備共同攻擊曹軍，為曹軍士兵所殺。在演義裏死於關羽刀下。

• 張郃，袁紹大將，官渡之戰期間，與高覽被郭圖誣告，一同投降曹操，為後期曹魏抵禦諸葛亮北伐大軍的名將。

• 高覽，袁紹大將，官渡之戰期間，與張郃被郭圖誣告，一同投降曹操。

• 韓猛，袁紹大將，官渡之戰時，被袁紹派往攻擊曹軍糧道，曹仁破於雞洛山。

• 蔣奇，袁紹大將，官渡之戰時，為沮授推薦護送淳于瓊運糧軍，為袁紹拒絕。

• 蔣義渠，袁紹大將，袁紹在官渡之敗後，將敗逃的袁紹接到了黎陽，並慢慢地收拾殘兵。

• 眭元進，袁紹部將，官渡之戰期間，為守護烏巢糧倉的副將，後曹軍快速攻陷了烏巢陣地，被斬殺。

• 韓莒子，袁紹部將，官渡之戰期間，為守護烏巢糧倉的副將，後曹軍快速攻陷了烏巢陣地，被斬殺。

• 呂威璜，袁紹部將，官渡之戰期間，為守護烏巢糧倉的副將，後曹軍快速攻陷了烏巢陣地，被斬殺。

• 趙叡，袁紹部將，官渡之戰期間，為守護烏巢糧倉的副將，後曹軍快速攻陷了烏巢陣地，被斬殺。

• 何茂，袁紹部將，官渡之戰期間，受于禁與樂進等進攻別營，不敵投降。

• 王摩，袁紹部將，易京之戰時擔任鄄城督，官渡之戰期間，受于禁與樂進等進攻別營，不敵投降。

• 嚴敬，袁紹大將，黎陽之戰中奮勇力戰曹軍，最後仍被曹軍的樂進斬殺。

冀州

• 蘇由，鄴城守將，曹操攻鄴時欲開城投降，事敗出逃，投奔曹操。

• 審榮，審配之姪，曹操攻鄴時引兵入城。

• 沮鵠，沮授之子，守邯鄲，為曹操擊敗。

• 尹楷，守毛城，以通上黨到達鄴的糧道，為曹操擊敗。

• 高蕃，魏郡太守，屯兵河上阻礙曹軍用水道運糧，為李典與程昱渡河擊敗。

• 韓范，曹操攻鄴時投降，大加封賞以作榜樣。

• 梁岐，曹操攻鄴時投降，大加封賞以作榜樣。

• 牽招，袁尚命牽招向高幹求援被拒絕後投降曹操。

• 李孚，袁尚命李孚入城通知審配聯合攻擊，後助曹操在袁譚死後安撫南皮民眾。

• 呂曠，曹操攻鄴時投降。

• 呂翔，曹操攻鄴時投降。

• 馬延，曹操攻鄴時臨陣投降，引起袁尚士兵潰敗。

• 張顗，曹操攻鄴時臨陣投降，引起袁尚士兵潰敗。

青州

• 郭圖，支持袁譚繼位，南皮城破後，被曹操斬殺一家。

• 辛評，辛毗之兄，因其弟辛毗內通曹操，以通敵的罪名被囚禁。

• 辛毗，被袁譚派遣向曹操求援，辛毗反而建議應以此機會吞併河北。

• 王修，袁譚攻袁尚戰敗後，退回南皮，王修率兵來救，勸導兄弟應和睦。

• 劉獻，青州別駕，數次毀謗王修，後來犯錯當死，因王修的關係得免死。

• 劉詢，叛離袁譚，青州諸城響應。

• 管統，眾將叛離袁譚時，唯一支持袁譚的太守，即使袁譚被殺後仍拒絕投降。

幽州

• 焦觸，和張南一同叛變並攻擊袁尚、袁熙，迫使其投奔遼西烏桓，後投降曹操。

• 張南，和焦觸一同叛變並攻擊袁尚、袁熙，迫使其投奔遼西烏桓，後投降曹操。

• 韓珩，焦觸部下，任別駕一職，焦觸叛變時，有感受袁氏恩惠，拒絕一同叛變。

并州

• 郭援，鐘繇之甥，與并州刺史高幹、南匈奴單于呼廚泉一起領兵南下，與舅父鐘繇交戰，為龐德所殺。

• 夏昭，曹操親征高幹，壺關被攻破，高幹于是留部將夏昭和鄧升守城，自詣匈奴單于求救。

• 鄧升，曹操親征高幹，壺關被攻破，高幹于是留部將夏昭和鄧升守城，自詣匈奴單于求救。

客將

• 張楊，反董卓失敗後投奔袁紹，不為所用。

• 呂布，逃出長安後投奔袁紹，大破張燕軍，因掠奪民眾為袁紹忌憚而出逃。

• 劉備，徐州兵敗後投奔袁紹，派往汝南共擊曹操，曹仁率騎兵攻打劉備，劉備大敗逃走。

藝術形象

動漫遊戲

• 真三國無雙系列 / 無雙OROCHI系列（光榮公司開發，龍谷修武配音）

• 三國志

• 三國演義

• 《橫山光輝三國志》（橫山光輝）

• 《蒼天航路》（王欣太）

• 《火鳳燎原》（陳某）

影視

• 香港亞洲電視劇《貂蟬》 （1987年）：由王複室飾演袁紹。

• 中國太原電視台電視劇《關公》（1993年）：由閻雨生飾演袁紹。

• 中國電視劇《三國演義》（1994年）：由洪宇宙、李慶祥飾演袁紹。

• 台灣華視電視劇《關公》（1996年）：由顧冠忠飾演袁紹。

• 電視劇《曹操》（1999年）：由王輝飾演袁紹。

• 中國電視劇《呂布與貂蟬》（2001年）：由周浩東飾演袁紹。

• 中國中央電視台電視劇《武聖關公》（2004年）：由孫繼峰飾演袁紹。

• 台灣民視 / 八大電視劇《終極三國》（2009年）：由黃志瑋飾演袁紹。

• 中國電視劇《三國》（2010年）：由許文廣飾演袁紹。

• 電視劇《新洛神》（2013年）：由于子寬飾演袁紹。

• 電視劇《曹操》（2014年）：由孫洪濤飾演袁紹。

• 電視劇《武神趙子龍》（2016年）：由劉流飾演袁紹。

• 電視劇《三國機密之潛龍在淵》（2018年）：由徐豐年飾演袁紹。

• 電影《真三國無雙》（2021年）：由呂良偉飾演袁紹。

注釋