Yuan Shu
A scion of Four Generations of Three Excellencies, he became warlord of Huainan and usurped the imperial title, dying deserted by all.
Life
Four Generations of Three Excellencies
Yuan Shu came from the Yuan clan of Runan, which had produced Three Excellencies for four generations, and was a brother of Yuan Shao. After Dong Zhuo entered the capital he fled to Nanyang and joined the campaign against Dong Zhuo; Sun Jian was once his subordinate commander.
Proclaimed himself emperor at Shouchun
He later occupied Shouchun in Huainan and lived in boundless extravagance. In 197, trusting in the Yuan clan's prestige and the Imperial Seal of the Realm, he proclaimed himself emperor at Shouchun with the dynastic name Zhong, and was attacked by all the warlords; Sun Ce also broke with him.
Deserted by all
After proclaiming himself emperor he lost battle after battle, and Huainan fell into a famine so severe that people ate one another. In 199 he tried and failed to join Yuan Shao; trapped at Jiangting, he asked for honey water and could not get any. Sighing, "Has Yuan Shu come to this?", he vomited blood and died.
Legacy
Yuan Shu was the first warlord of the late Han to openly proclaim himself emperor; his failure showed that while the Han house still commanded loyalty, usurping the title would only provoke universal outrage.
Major works & achievements
- Warlord of Huainan
Did you know? Just before his death he wanted a bowl of honey water and could not even get that.
Key dates
- 190Joined the campaign against Dong Zhuo
- 197Proclaimed himself emperor at Shouchun
- 199Deserted by all, he vomited blood and died