生平

四世三公

袁绍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，祖父袁汤官至司空、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达五人，故号称「四世三公」，门生故吏遍布天下。袁山松书记载，袁绍为袁逢的庶子，因袁逢的兄长左中郎将袁成早逝，袁逢将袁绍过继给袁成。袁逢另有二子袁基、袁术，所以在血缘上，袁绍及袁基、袁术是同父异母的亲兄弟，由宗法继承权关系来看，也可视为堂兄弟。

袁绍的母亲仅是个婢女，早年袁绍的地位颇见低微。《典略》载瓒表绍罪状曰：「绍母亲为婢使，绍实微贱，不可以为人后，以义不宜，乃据丰隆之重任，忝污王爵，损辱袁宗，绍罪九也。」

袁绍父亲袁成喜欢结交当时上层门阀的豪爽之士，自大将军梁冀以下的很多人都与他交往。袁绍有著不错的外貌，同样也结交了很多士人。袁绍年纪很小就担任郎官，之后升迁为濮阳长。因为母亲去世，弃官守丧，为母亲服丧三年结束后，袁绍又为先前去世的嗣父袁成服丧三年。六年守丧结束后袁绍在洛阳隐居，结交游侠，拒绝朝廷徵召，此举引发中常侍赵忠不满。后来袁绍在叔父袁隗劝说下出仕，担任大将军何进的掾，又为侍御史、虎贲中郎将。

188年（中平五年），朝廷任命小黄门蹇硕、虎贲中郎将袁绍、鲍鸿、议郎曹操、赵融、冯芳、夏牟、淳于琼等八人共组成西园八校尉，其中袁绍被举荐为中军校尉，成为汉灵帝新建立的西园军的副领袖。

诛杀宦官

当时宦官在朝廷气势已盛，而何进身兼外戚（何皇后之兄）已与宦官对立。袁绍曾建议何进引诱扑杀宦官，何进犹豫不决，反被宦官知悉、抢先杀死何进。袁绍遂依自己当初的想法，名正言顺率兵入洛阳南宫内杀绝阉官。此时董卓正好响应何进生前的密谋号召，藉口带西凉兵团入京卫戍。

联军反董

董卓趁朝廷大乱时收编大将军何进与其弟车骑将军何苗所遗之部曲，又收吕布、施计并执金吾（京城警备司令）丁原之众，召袁绍与之谋废汉少帝刘辩，改立汉献帝刘协。

袁绍尽管暗中不满，但仍伪许之，然后亡奔冀州。董卓深知袁氏「门生故吏满天下」的威胁性，怕袁绍「收豪杰以聚徒众，英雄因之而起」，不斥其罪，反而封他为勃海太守、邟乡侯。

由于董卓废少帝有逆当代的人臣之伦，袁绍因此在渤海起兵，自号车骑将军。初平元年（190年）正月，关东诸侯同时起兵，众各数万，共推袁绍为盟主。董卓的先锋部队被孙坚打败后，畏惧联军的声势浩大，放弃洛阳并强迁京师至长安。各路勤王而来的关东诸侯则因互不协调，不合而散。

统一河北

在讨伐董卓之后，袁绍用计夺取了韩馥的冀州，开始在华北扩张势力。随后几年间，在追随者们的辅佐下，先后击败了公孙瓒、孔融、张燕等人，掌握了冀州以及青州、并州、幽州三州大部分人口的地盘，雄霸河北，拥有数十万左右的大军，是当时全中国最强的军阀。袁绍与公孙瓒作战，赵云杀入袁绍军中，袁绍大呼：「大丈夫愿临阵斗死，岂可入墙而望活乎！」同时袁绍也介入山东地区的战事，帮助曹操打败了吕布、张邈等势力，派臧洪为东郡太守。但臧洪却因故主张超被曹操攻杀时袁绍不肯相救而背叛袁绍，袁绍历时两年才攻破东郡。臧洪不肯复归袁绍，遂被袁绍处决。

当献帝逃出被李傕和郭汜控制的长安逃到洛阳时，袁绍的重要谋士沮授建议尊迎皇帝到邺城，但郭图和淳于琼认为汉朝衰微、群雄并起，若迎接天子遇事总要上表，听则权轻，违背则抗命，由此不认同沮授的建议。由于袁绍鄙视董卓所拥立的献帝，曾密谋推举幽州牧刘虞为帝，但没有成功。袁绍的主薄耿苞向袁绍表示汉朝气数已尽，袁氏应顺应天意取而代之；袁绍将耿苞的意见告诉自己的手下试探舆论，结果众人认为耿苞是在妖言惑众应该处死，袁绍不得已只好处死耿苞来解套。此时曹操则采纳军师荀彧的建议，抢先将献帝迎到许都，奉戴天子并以朝廷名义向诸侯发号施令。此时袁绍亦有迎驾之意，但因与公孙瓒作战又遭到臧洪的背叛，分身乏术，故派从事中郎徐勋请曹操代为迎驾，并派手下应劭去朝廷制定典章。曹操迎驾后以献帝名义以袁绍为太尉，袁绍认为自己位在时任大将军的曹操之下而不肯受命，怒道：「曹操好几次该死了，我救活了他，现在就背恩挟天子以令我了吗！」因此曹操便让出大将军之位，改以袁绍为大将军，封邺侯，派将作大匠孔融持节去邺城给袁绍封拜官爵，袁绍才作罢，虽然推辞了邺侯的封爵，但最终也接受了。

后曹操讨伐刘备时，田丰建议袁绍趁机偷袭许都，袁绍以小儿子生病为由拒绝了田丰的意见，田丰当场以杖击地：「苍天啊！为了一个孩儿放弃良机！」袁绍虽拒绝田丰建议，但仍派出将领出兵延津，却被曹操部将于禁所阻。后来袁绍终于出兵攻许都以争献帝，因此引发官渡之战。

兵败官渡

建安五年（200年），袁绍率十馀万大军进攻曹操；官渡之战初，谋士沮授建议袁绍采取持久战略但不被袁绍采纳；另一谋士许攸建议袁绍派兵袭击许都亦不被袁绍接受，此时许攸刚好因家属犯罪被袁绍处刑，使许攸对袁绍怀恨在心，遂投奔曹操。

许攸向曹操建议，派兵袭击袁绍远征军的军粮所在地乌巢。曹操闻之大喜，于是亲率奇兵攻击乌巢，当时守护乌巢的是淳于琼；由于事发突然，张合向袁绍建议派大军救援辎重粮草的重地乌巢，但袁绍只派轻骑去救援乌巢，而淳于琼未先加以防范，结果曹军乐进率军很快地攻陷了乌巢阵地，烧掉了袁绍军所有的军粮草石并斩杀淳于琼。乌巢沦陷后使袁绍军士气大挫，此前田丰等人数度献策不被袁绍采纳成了关键。之后袁绍统治的冀州多叛但仍得以平定。

建安六年（201年），袁绍试图重振旗鼓，与曹操爆发仓亭之战，但再度战败。自军败惭愤，发病呕血，于建安七年五月廿一日庚戌（202年6月28日）离开人世，《献帝春秋》记载在他死时「河北士女莫不伤怨，市巷挥泪，如或丧亲。」

评价

• 赵忠：「袁本初坐作声价，好养死士，不知此儿终欲何作。」（《三国志·魏书·董二袁刘传第六》）

• 董卓：「但杀二袁儿，则天下自服矣。」（《后汉纪·孝献皇帝纪卷第二十六》）

• 荀谌：「袁氏一时之杰。」（《资治通鉴·卷第六十》）

• 鲍信：「袁绍为盟主，因权夺利，将自生乱，是复有一卓也。」（《资治通鉴·卷第六十》）

• 沮授：「将军弱冠登朝，则播名海内；值废立之际，则忠义奋发；单骑出奔，则董卓怀怖；济河而北，则勃海稽首。振一郡之卒，撮冀州之众，威震河朔，名重天下。」（《后汉书·袁绍刘表列传第六十四下》）

• 公孙瓒：「袁氏之攻，似若神鬼，鼓角鸣于地中，梯冲舞吾楼上。」（《三国志·魏书·二公孙陶四张传第八》）

• 袁术：「今君拥有四州，民户百万，以强则无与比大，论德则无与比高。」（《三国志·魏书·董二袁刘传第六》）

• 和洽：「本初乘资，虽能强大，然雄豪方起，全未可必也。」（《三国志·魏书·和常杨杜赵裴传第二十三》）

• 曹操：「吾知绍之为人，志大而智小，色厉而胆薄，忌克而少威，兵多而分画不明，将骄而政令不一，土地虽广，粮食虽丰，适足以为吾奉也」，「袁绍虽有大志，而见事迟」「及至袁绍据河北，兵势强盛，孤自度势，实不敌之。」（《让县自明本志令》）

• 荀彧：「布衣之雄耳，能聚人而不能用」「绍貌外宽而内忌，任人而疑其心」、「绍迟重少决，失在后机」、「绍御军宽缓，法令不立，士卒虽众，其实难用」、「绍凭世资，从容饰智，以收名誉，故士之寡能好问者多归之」「兵虽多而法不整」

• 荀攸：「绍以宽厚得众心。」（《资治通鉴·卷第六十四》）

• 程昱：「夫袁绍据燕、赵之地，有并天下之心，而智不能济也。」（《三国志·魏书·程郭董刘蒋刘传第十四》）

• 郭嘉：「袁公徒欲效周公之下士，而未知用人之机。多端寡要，好谋无决，欲与共济天下大难，定霸王之业，难矣！」「袁绍有恩于民夷。」（《三国志·魏书·程郭董刘蒋刘传第十四》）

• 王粲：「袁绍有姿貌、威容，爱士养名。既累世台司，宾客所归，加以倾心折节，莫不争赴其庭，士无贵贱，与之抗礼。」（《英雄记》）

• 杨阜：「袁公宽而不断，好谋而少决；不断则无威，少决则失后事，今虽强，终不能成大业。」（《三国志·魏书·辛毗杨阜高堂隆传第二十五》）

• 孙权：「老贼欲废汉自立久矣，徒忌二袁、吕布、刘表与孤耳。」（《三国志·吴书九·周瑜鲁肃吕蒙传第九》）

• 曹丕：「绍遇因运，得收英雄之谋，假士民之力，东苞巨海之实，西举全晋之地，南阻白渠黄河，北有劲弓胡马，地方二千里，众数十万，可谓威矣。当此之时，无敌于天下，视霸王易于覆手，而不能抑遏愚妻，显别嫡庶，婉恋私爱，宠子以貌；其后败绩丧师，身以疾死，邪臣饰奸，二子相屠，坟土未乾，而宗庙为墟，其误至矣。」（《典论》）

• 臧洪：「诸袁事汉，四世五公，可谓受恩。今王室衰弱，无扶翼之意，欲因际会，希冀非望，多杀忠良以立奸威。洪亲见呼张陈留为兄，则洪府君亦宜为弟，同共戮力，为国除害，何为拥众观人屠灭！惜洪力劣，不能推刃为天下报仇，何谓服乎！」

• 陈容：「将军举大事，欲为天下除暴，而专先诛忠义，岂合天意！臧洪发举为郡将，奈何杀之！」

• 《献帝春秋》：「绍为人政宽，百姓德之。河北士女莫不伤怨，市巷挥泪，如或丧亲。」

• 范晔：「袁绍初以豪侠得众，遂怀雄霸之图，天下胜兵举旗者，莫不假以为名。及临场决敌，则悍夫争命；深筹高议，则智士倾心。盛哉乎，其所资也！」「绍外宽雅有局度，忧喜不形于色，而性矜愎自高，短于从善，故至于败。」「绍姿弘雅，表亦长者。称雄河外，擅强南夏。鱼俪汉舳，云屯冀马。窥图讯鼎，禋天类社。既云天工，亦资人亮。矜强少成，坐谈奚望。回皇冢嬖，身颓业丧。」（《后汉书·袁绍刘表列传第六十四下》）

• 陈寿：「袁绍、刘表，咸有威容、器观，知名当世。表跨蹈汉南，绍鹰扬河朔，然皆外宽内忌，好谋无决，有才而不能用，闻善而不能纳，废嫡立庶，舍礼崇爱，至于后嗣颠蹙，社稷倾覆，非不幸也。昔项羽背范增之谋，以丧其王业；绍之杀田丰，乃甚于羽远矣！」

• 常璩：「汉末大乱，雄桀并起。若董卓、吕布、二袁、韩、马、张杨、刘表之徒，兼州连郡，众逾万计，叱吒之间，皆自谓汉祖可踵，桓、文易迈。」（《华阳国志·卷六·刘先主志》）

• 柳庄：「昔袁绍、刘表、王凌、诸葛诞，皆一时雄杰，据要地，拥强兵。」（《资治通鉴·卷第一百七十四》）

• 苏夔：「近者刘荆州之意气，袁渤海之纵横，当其吐纳荆扬，鞭笞河朔，猛将厉于雕鹗，谋臣盛于云雨，从容啸吒，有席卷八荒之心，固以震倘肆椋熏灼宇宙者。」（《全隋文·卷二十七》）

• 赵蕤：「袁本初虎视河朔；刘景升鹊起荆州；马超、韩遂，雄据于关西；吕布、陈宫，窃命于东夏；辽河海岱，王公十数，皆阻兵百万、铁骑千群，合纵缔交，为一时之杰也。」（《长短经·卷六·霸纪下》）

• 魏元忠：「假有项籍之气，袁绍之基，而皆泯智任情，终以破灭，何况复出其下哉。」（《旧唐书·列传第四十二》）

• 何去非：「昔者东汉之微，豪杰并起而争天下，人各操其所争之资。盖二袁以势，吕布以勇，曹公以智，刘备、孙权各挟其智勇之微而不全者也。」「方二袁之起，借其世资以撼天下。绍举四州之众，南向而逼官渡；术据南阳，以扰江淮，遂窃大号；吕布骁勇，转斗无前而争衮州。方是之时，天下之窥曹公，疑不复振。而人之所以争附而乐赴者，袁、吕而已。」「袁绍虽非曹公之敌，亦所谓一时之豪杰，横大河之北，奄四州之土，南向而争天下，一旦摧败，卒以忧死。」（何博士备论）

• 秦观：方绍与董卓异议，横刀不应长揖而出，及起兵渤海，遂有四州之地，连百万之众，威震河朔名重天下，不可谓非一时之杰也。然杀一田丰遂至于此，则天下之祸其有大于杀士者乎。

• 郝经：「袁氏奕世公鼎，高风义轨，冠冕海内。绍资望夙著。一旦提剑而起，汛除阉竖，肃清宫闱。心不义卓，投袂而起，则有英雄之志矣。于是山东讨贼推为盟主，河朔服义让以方州，卒连幽并青冀，横制天下之半，材勇效命，智谋贡策，翼戴天子而加之以共则桓文之举也。乃猜忌自用，潜怀不轨，稽失事机，为操所先忿兵犯顺折衂以死，幼长倒置祸起骨肉，家声委地咸其自取也。」（《续后汉书》） 「时卓暴戾，气凌一时，决计废立而绍忤之，故致忿骂。绍亦一时之杰，揖之而去，亦其宜也。」

• 罗贯中：「累世公卿立大名，少年意气自纵横。空招俊杰三千客，漫有英雄百万兵。羊质虎皮功不就，凤毛鸡胆事难成。更怜一种伤心处，家难徒延两弟兄。」

• 王世贞：「古之有天下者，要必有人君之德，而其佐命以功臣终者，要必有人臣之体，人臣之体在才巨而心小其识不凡，而凡不远而远乃可保也无君德，而其材非人臣者。偏雄，则项羽、袁绍、李密；委质，则韩信及荣也。」（王弇州崇论卷之四）

• 王夫之：「袁绍虽疏而有略，其规恢较大矣。」（《读通鉴论》）

• 柳从辰：「卓虽受诛，豪杰并起，跨州连郡如刘虞、公孙瓒、陶谦、袁绍、刘表、刘焉、袁术、吕布者，皆尝雄视一时，其权力犹足匡正帝室。」

• 吕思勉：「袁绍是曹操的大敌。他不但地广兵强，在社会上声望很高，势力极大，即论其才具，在当时群雄中，亦当首屈一指。」

• 蔡东藩：「况引狼入室，绍实主谋，鲍信进诛卓之方，犹不失为中计，而绍又不能信从；绍非特害进，并且覆汉，其罪亦弥甚矣！」（《后汉演义》）

• 毛泽东：「袁绍这个人多谋寡断，有谋无断，没有决心，不果断，结果兵败于官渡。所以有谋还要善断。」

• 方诗铭：「世族、豪杰、游侠，是袁绍的优点，也是袁绍的有利条件，以此为凭藉，他得到「名豪大侠，富室强族」的支持，最后雄据河北，成为当时最大的割据者。出身于世族的袁绍，再加上他的游侠性格和豪杰才能，叱吒风云，雄据一方。尽管后来支持他的人们，有的相互火并，有的背叛投降，最后使袁氏政权烟消火灭。但是，在东汉末年的战乱时代，袁绍仍不失为一个杰出的人物。」（《三国人物散论》）

家庭

祖父

• 袁汤

父亲

• 袁成（养父）

• 袁逢（亲生父亲）

兄弟

• 袁基（绍之同父兄，宗法论为从兄），与袁隗一同被董卓所害，汉太仆。

• 袁术（绍之同父弟，宗法论为从弟），曾趁乱世称天子，却得不到支持，最终屡次兵败后吐血而死。

姐妹

• 袁氏，嫁杨彪

• 袁氏，嫁高躬

妻妾

• 刘夫人（生熙、尚）

• 宠妾五人，被刘夫人所杀

儿女

• 长子袁谭，袁绍死后，为了争夺父袁绍继承人之位，而与三弟袁尚互相攻伐，最后为曹操所破。

• 次子袁熙，袁绍死后偏安幽州，后收留投奔而来的三弟袁尚，一同逃到辽东，为公孙康所杀。

• 三子袁尚，袁绍废长立幼，袁绍死后继位，为了保存继承人之位，与长兄袁谭互相攻伐，为曹操所破，投奔袁熙，一同逃到辽东，为公孙康所杀。

• 袁买（袁尚弟，一说袁尚兄子）

族人

• 袁隗，袁绍叔父，在朝廷时被董卓所害。

• 高干，袁绍的外甥，在袁绍辞世后表面上归顺朝廷，后趁曹操对付袁绍之子袁熙和袁尚时，高干举兵叛变，但事败被杀。

• 袁遗，袁绍堂兄，字伯业，曾任长安令、扬州刺史，最后为袁术所败，因部下背叛而被杀。曹操称其「长大而能勤学者，惟吾与袁伯业矣。（白话：年纪渐长仍能坚持好学不倦的，就只有我与袁伯业了。）」

• 袁叙，袁绍堂弟。

• 袁胤，袁绍堂弟，曾任丹杨太守。

• 袁春卿，与袁绍同族。任魏郡（治邺城）太守。曹操攻邺时，派人到扬州迎袁春卿之父袁元长，让董昭劝袁春卿投降。

部下

邺中

• 沮授，在官渡之战之前，建议打持久战，未被采纳，官渡之败后被俘。其后密谋逃回袁绍，事败被杀。

• 田丰，在官渡之战之前，建议偷袭许都，袁绍以儿子生病为由拒绝。后被下狱，袁绍官渡失败后，将田丰杀害。

• 荀谌，荀彧之兄，说服韩馥出让冀州州牧职位予袁绍。

• 许攸，官渡之战时其奇袭许昌的建议未被采纳，家人犯罪被拘禁引致许攸出卖袁绍，献计奇袭乌巢。

• 逢纪，向袁绍献计把冀州鹊巢鸠占，袁绍死后助袁尚继位。

• 审配，因许攸家人犯罪而作拘禁，令许攸出卖袁绍，引致官渡之败，袁绍死后助袁尚继位。

• 郭图，支持袁谭继位，南皮城破后，被曹操斩杀一家。

• 辛评，辛毗之兄，因其弟辛毗内通曹操，以通敌的罪名被囚禁。

• 辛毗，被袁谭派遣向曹操求援，辛毗反而建议应以此机会吞并河北。

• 陈琳，「建安七子」之一。袁绍的军中文书，多出其手。

• 董昭，袁绍任命的魏郡太守。

• 孟岱，与审配有间隙，在官渡之战失败后，审配的两个儿子为曹操所用，遂对袁绍说：「配在位专政，族大兵强，且二子在南，必怀反畔。」袁绍因此任命他为监军，代审配守邺城。

• 朱汉，袁绍封为都官从事。围韩馥府第，韩馥要求离开，弄跛韩馥的长子，后为袁绍所杀。

• 栗成，袁绍任命的魏郡太守，被黑山贼所杀。

• 陶升，原是小吏，有善心，曾加入黑山贼，后被袁绍收为部下，不久提拔为建义中郎将。于毒杀栗成后，袁绍和陶升攻杀于毒。

• 周昂，袁绍早期武将，在孙坚攻打董卓期间，被袁绍派与夺取孙坚的屯兵地阳城，射杀公孙瓒之弟公孙越。

• 季雍，袁绍早期武将，后背叛袁绍而降公孙瓒。

• 朱灵，袁绍早期武将，被袁绍派遣攻打背叛袁绍的季雍。曹操讨伐陶谦时，奉袁绍之命督三营军士，赶赴增援曹操，其后留在曹营。

• 淳于琼，袁绍军中宿将，官渡之战期间，为守护乌巢粮仓的主将，后曹军快速攻陷了乌巢阵地，被乐进所掳获后处死。

• 麴义，袁绍军中骁将，在界桥之战中，屡次大破公孙瓒军，因恃功而骄恣，后为袁绍所杀。

• 崔巨业，袁绍大将，领兵围故安，被公孙瓒在巨马水之战中所大破。

• 颜良，袁绍军中名将，在白马之战中，颜良军因孤立作战，被在曹军中的关羽所斩杀。

• 文丑，袁绍军中名将，在颜良被杀后，于延津之战中，与刘备共同攻击曹军，为曹军士兵所杀。在演义里死于关羽刀下。

• 张合，袁绍大将，官渡之战期间，与高览被郭图诬告，一同投降曹操，为后期曹魏抵御诸葛亮北伐大军的名将。

• 高览，袁绍大将，官渡之战期间，与张合被郭图诬告，一同投降曹操。

• 韩猛，袁绍大将，官渡之战时，被袁绍派往攻击曹军粮道，曹仁破于鸡洛山。

• 蒋奇，袁绍大将，官渡之战时，为沮授推荐护送淳于琼运粮军，为袁绍拒绝。

• 蒋义渠，袁绍大将，袁绍在官渡之败后，将败逃的袁绍接到了黎阳，并慢慢地收拾残兵。

• 眭元进，袁绍部将，官渡之战期间，为守护乌巢粮仓的副将，后曹军快速攻陷了乌巢阵地，被斩杀。

• 韩莒子，袁绍部将，官渡之战期间，为守护乌巢粮仓的副将，后曹军快速攻陷了乌巢阵地，被斩杀。

• 吕威璜，袁绍部将，官渡之战期间，为守护乌巢粮仓的副将，后曹军快速攻陷了乌巢阵地，被斩杀。

• 赵睿，袁绍部将，官渡之战期间，为守护乌巢粮仓的副将，后曹军快速攻陷了乌巢阵地，被斩杀。

• 何茂，袁绍部将，官渡之战期间，受于禁与乐进等进攻别营，不敌投降。

• 王摩，袁绍部将，易京之战时担任鄄城督，官渡之战期间，受于禁与乐进等进攻别营，不敌投降。

• 严敬，袁绍大将，黎阳之战中奋勇力战曹军，最后仍被曹军的乐进斩杀。

冀州

• 苏由，邺城守将，曹操攻邺时欲开城投降，事败出逃，投奔曹操。

• 审荣，审配之侄，曹操攻邺时引兵入城。

• 沮鹄，沮授之子，守邯郸，为曹操击败。

• 尹楷，守毛城，以通上党到达邺的粮道，为曹操击败。

• 高蕃，魏郡太守，屯兵河上阻碍曹军用水道运粮，为李典与程昱渡河击败。

• 韩范，曹操攻邺时投降，大加封赏以作榜样。

• 梁岐，曹操攻邺时投降，大加封赏以作榜样。

• 牵招，袁尚命牵招向高干求援被拒绝后投降曹操。

• 李孚，袁尚命李孚入城通知审配联合攻击，后助曹操在袁谭死后安抚南皮民众。

• 吕旷，曹操攻邺时投降。

• 吕翔，曹操攻邺时投降。

• 马延，曹操攻邺时临阵投降，引起袁尚士兵溃败。

• 张顗，曹操攻邺时临阵投降，引起袁尚士兵溃败。

青州

• 郭图，支持袁谭继位，南皮城破后，被曹操斩杀一家。

• 辛评，辛毗之兄，因其弟辛毗内通曹操，以通敌的罪名被囚禁。

• 辛毗，被袁谭派遣向曹操求援，辛毗反而建议应以此机会吞并河北。

• 王修，袁谭攻袁尚战败后，退回南皮，王修率兵来救，劝导兄弟应和睦。

• 刘献，青州别驾，数次毁谤王修，后来犯错当死，因王修的关系得免死。

• 刘询，叛离袁谭，青州诸城响应。

• 管统，众将叛离袁谭时，唯一支持袁谭的太守，即使袁谭被杀后仍拒绝投降。

幽州

• 焦触，和张南一同叛变并攻击袁尚、袁熙，迫使其投奔辽西乌桓，后投降曹操。

• 张南，和焦触一同叛变并攻击袁尚、袁熙，迫使其投奔辽西乌桓，后投降曹操。

• 韩珩，焦触部下，任别驾一职，焦触叛变时，有感受袁氏恩惠，拒绝一同叛变。

并州

• 郭援，钟繇之甥，与并州刺史高干、南匈奴单于呼厨泉一起领兵南下，与舅父钟繇交战，为庞德所杀。

• 夏昭，曹操亲征高干，壶关被攻破，高干于是留部将夏昭和邓升守城，自诣匈奴单于求救。

• 邓升，曹操亲征高干，壶关被攻破，高干于是留部将夏昭和邓升守城，自诣匈奴单于求救。

客将

• 张杨，反董卓失败后投奔袁绍，不为所用。

• 吕布，逃出长安后投奔袁绍，大破张燕军，因掠夺民众为袁绍忌惮而出逃。

• 刘备，徐州兵败后投奔袁绍，派往汝南共击曹操，曹仁率骑兵攻打刘备，刘备大败逃走。

艺术形象

动漫游戏

• 真三国无双系列 / 无双OROCHI系列（光荣公司开发，龙谷修武配音）

• 三国志

• 三国演义

• 《横山光辉三国志》（横山光辉）

• 《苍天航路》（王欣太）

• 《火凤燎原》（陈某）

影视

• 香港亚洲电视剧《貂蝉》 （1987年）：由王复室饰演袁绍。

• 中国太原电视台电视剧《关公》（1993年）：由阎雨生饰演袁绍。

• 中国电视剧《三国演义》（1994年）：由洪宇宙、李庆祥饰演袁绍。

• 台湾华视电视剧《关公》（1996年）：由顾冠忠饰演袁绍。

• 电视剧《曹操》（1999年）：由王辉饰演袁绍。

• 中国电视剧《吕布与貂蝉》（2001年）：由周浩东饰演袁绍。

• 中国中央电视台电视剧《武圣关公》（2004年）：由孙继峰饰演袁绍。

• 台湾民视 / 八大电视剧《终极三国》（2009年）：由黄志玮饰演袁绍。

• 中国电视剧《三国》（2010年）：由许文广饰演袁绍。

• 电视剧《新洛神》（2013年）：由于子宽饰演袁绍。

• 电视剧《曹操》（2014年）：由孙洪涛饰演袁绍。

• 电视剧《武神赵子龙》（2016年）：由刘流饰演袁绍。

• 电视剧《三国机密之潜龙在渊》（2018年）：由徐丰年饰演袁绍。

• 电影《真三国无双》（2021年）：由吕良伟饰演袁绍。

注释

Family background

Yuan Shao was born in Ruyang County (汝阳县), 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 (魏书).

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 (车骑将军) and camped at Henei (河内), 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 (袁汤), 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 (袁叙), younger cousin

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

　• Yuan Manlai (袁满来), cousin

　• Yuan Yida (袁懿达), cousin

　• Yuan Renda (袁仁达), 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.