Early life

Dong Zhuo was born in Lintao, Longxi Commandery in the early 140s and was said to be a chivalrous youth who was physically strong and excelled in horseback archery. He travelled around the Qiang and Xiongnu regions and befriended many people.

Around 165, Dong Zhuo became a member of the Yulin corps (羽林郎, branch of the Imperial Guard) in the capital. Dong served under Zhang Huan's (张奂) northern campaign to suppress an uprising of the Qiang. He eventually became a county magistrate in the Yanmen Commandery, a divisional commandant in the Shu Commandery, the Wu and Ji colonel in the Western Regions, inspector of Bing Province, and administrator of the Hedong Commandery.

At some point in the 170s, he was employed as a minor official in an unnamed commandery, supervising captured thieves and robbers. Due to the many raids by non-Han minorities, the then-Inspector of Liangzhou, Cheng Jiu (成就), promoted Dong to serve under him. Under Cheng, Dong led troops to repel these raids and achieved much success. As such, the then-Inspector of Bingzhou, Duan Jiong (段颎), recommended Dong to the Three Excellencies of the time; then-Situ Yuan Wei (袁隗) hired Dong to serve under him.

By the late 170s, Dong Zhuo was Administrator of Hedong Commandery.

At the outbreak of the Yellow Turban Rebellion in the summer of 184, Dong Zhuo was sent to take over command from Lu Zhi in preparation of the offense on Zhang Jue in Julu. Although his efforts during the rebellion were initially unsuccessful, with the arrival of Huangfu Song, victory was achieved in the winter against the peasants.

During the Liang Province Rebellion, the barbarians rebelled with local gentries Han Sui and Bian Zhang. Dong was reinstated and sent to suppress the rebels. While suppressing this rebellion, Dong Zhuo had several tactical and strategic disagreements with Huangfu Song; after Huangfu managed to achieve victory despite Dong's disagreements, Dong became resentful and fearful of him.

Dong Zhuo was given the title "General Who Smashes the Caitiffs" in 185, and "General of the Vanguard" in 188. He was promoted to be the governor of Bing Province, but he refused to take up his new post as he was unwilling to leave his men.

During the turbulent situation, the power of the Eastern Han dynasty was waning. Dong Zhuo then settled in Liang Province and built up his power.

Rise to power

Following the death of Emperor Ling of Han in May 189, General-in-Chief He Jin ordered Dong Zhuo to lead troops into Luoyang to aid him in eliminating the powerful eunuch faction known as the Ten Attendants. Before Dong could arrive, He Jin was assassinated by the eunuchs in September that year and the capital city fell into a state of turmoil. The eunuchs took Liu Bian (Emperor Shao) hostage and fled from Luoyang. Dong Zhuo's army intercepted the eunuchs and brought the emperor back to the palace.

After He Jin's death, He Jin's step-brother, General of Chariots and Cavalry He Miao (何苗), was killed by He Jin's subordinate Wu Kuang (吳匡) and Dong Zhuo's brother Dong Min, for sympathizing with the eunuch faction which had assassinated He Jin.

After arriving in Luoyang, Dong Zhuo realized that his 3000 men were unequal to the numerous troops guarding the capital. Dong ordered some of his army to march out at night and re-enter the city at dawn, thus making it appear that he was receiving reinforcements. Dong then took command of the leaderless forces of He Jin and He Miao, convinced Lü Bu to join his ranks, and made himself Excellency of Works.

In 189, Dong deposed Emperor Shao and replaced him with Liu Xie (Emperor Xian). Dong declared himself chancellor, and became the head of the imperial court in Luoyang. However, in the words of Rafe de Crespigny, Dong Zhuo's "conduct towards the court and the imperial officials was bullying, oppressive and frequently bloody." This prompted Yuan Shao to form a coalition army with other regional officials in opposition to Dong Zhuo's military authority.

Coalition against Dong Zhuo

Dong Zhuo retreats to Changan

In the same year, regional officials and warlords around the country formed a coalition force and launched a punitive campaign against Dong Zhuo. In response, he sent a detachment to intercept the coalition vanguard led by Sun Jian, and ordered his son-in-law, Niu Fu, to supply his fortress and manor of Mei, also known as "Meiwu" (郿坞) or Ten-Thousand Year Fortress (万岁坞), with 30 years' worth of rations, where he had planned to centralize his power or retire in safety behind its fortified walls built to be seven zhàng in height and thickness. After his subordinates Hua Xiong, Hu Zhen, and Lu Bu were defeated by Sun Jian at Yangren, Dong Zhuo sent Li Jue to propose a marriage between Sun's son and Dong's daughter, and split the empire between the two families. Sun Jian refused and prepared to attack Luoyang.

Dong evacuated everyone in Luoyang and moved them to Chang'an in the west. Before the relocation, Dong ordered his troops to ransack the tombs of the late Han emperors for treasures, seize valuables from the wealthy residents in Luoyang, and burn down the palaces and anything that might be useful to the coalition.

Then the chancellor assembled his forces in the city and personally led them to ambush the approaching army. Dong's ambush failed and he was driven back by Sun Jian. He ordered Lu Bu to lead a cavalry force back to the city to halt Sun's progress before he took flight for Mianchi. Sun Jian broke through one of the eastern gates and defeated Lu Bu, taking the city.

Defeat of the coalition

Despite taking Luoyang, the city was so heavily damaged that Sun Jian chose to retreat rather than to try to hold it.

Dong Zhuo then sent his generals Li Jue, Guo Si, and Zhang Ji to the frontline against the eastern warlords. By this time the coalition had already fallen into disarray and internal bickering. The only ones who actively opposed Dong were the senior imperial officer, Zhu Jun and his old friend, Tao Qian. Tao, despite having a general alliance with Dong, sent 3,000 elite troops from Danyang to aid Zhu in the battle with Dong's forces at Zhongmu. Zhu was defeated. Li Jue and his comrades then raided the surrounding area around Chenliu and Yingchuan for slaves. Morale among the allied soldiers were low due to news of the ways in which Dong Zhuo would torture captives. Apparently he would have them tied up with fat-soaked clothes and start a fire from their foot. He left their heads unbound so he could enjoy their screams and watch their expressions while being tortured.

Rule of terror

Two months after he moved the capital, Dong Zhuo revived the title of Grand Master, an antiquated title once reinvigorated by Wang Mang, but scrapped in the Eastern Han. He appointed his younger brother Dong Min as General of the Left and gave official posts to several of his kin.

Dong Zhuo threw lavish banquets during which he would torture captured enemies by severing limbs, removing tongues and eyeballs, or burning them alive. His audience was said to have experienced a high degree of discomfort.

For Yuan Shao's role as leader of the coalition against him, Dong Zhuo had the entire Yuan clan in Luoyang wiped out. Within two years, thousands of public servants were wrongly accused and executed, and numerous commoners were kidnapped or killed. In order to purchase materials for further development of the Mei citadel, he had bells and bronze statues, among which were nine of the Twelve Metal Colossi, melted and recast into coins. However, the coins did not weigh the same, resulting in all copper cash being devalued.

Downfall and death

Dong Zhuo kept Lü Bu as a personal bodyguard and swore an oath as father and son. However, after an argument, Dong threw a hand-axe at Lü Bu, who dodged the weapon. Lü Bu's relationship with Dong Zhuo further deteriorated when Lü had an affair with a woman in Dong's harem.

In 192, with encouragement from Interior Minister Wang Yun, Lü Bu made his decision to kill Dong Zhuo. On the morning of May 22, 192, Lü greeted Dong at the palace gate with a dozen trusted men led by Cavalry Captain Li Su, who had pretended to stand guard at the gate alongside Wang Yun. Li stepped forward and tried to stab Dong with a ji, but Dong's body armour saved him. Dong cried out for Lü Bu to save him, but Lü merely answered, "This is an imperial order," after which he delivered a fatal blow to Dong.

It was recorded that Dong's corpse was left on the streets with a lit wick placed on his navel. The wick burned for several days on the fat of the corpse. It was said that the light from the flame could last for days. A special order stated that anyone who went forth to collect the body would be killed. However, three officials, including Cai Yong, still challenged the order and were executed. Meanwhile, all affiliates of the Dong clan, including Dong's 90-year-old mother, were put to death.

Legacy

After Dong Zhuo's death, several of his loyalists, such as Li Jue, Guo Si, Zhang Ji and Fan Chou, escaped on the belief that their allegiance to him would be considered treason. Wang Yun, who had taken control of the government, heard their appeal for pardon and said, "Of all those who should be forgiven, they are the exceptions." The four then planned to relinquish their positions and go into hiding. However, an advisor named Jia Xu suggested they should take this opportunity to launch a strike at Chang'an since the Liang faction was practically unscathed. The four then roused several-thousand core followers to attack Chang'an. Wang sent Xu Rong and Hu Zhen (former members of the Liang faction) to fight the Liang force en route, but Xu was killed in the first encounter and Hu joined the rebels, inflating the size of their army to 100,000 when they surrounded the capital. Lü Bu attempted to break the siege, but was defeated outside the city gate, and thus Chang'an fell into the hands of Dong Zhuo's followers. Emperor Xian was taken hostage and power in the court fell into the hands of the Liang faction once again.

Family

• Father: Dong Junya (died 181)

• Mother: Lady Dong (103–192), titled Lady of Chiyang, executed

• Younger brother: Dong Min (died 192) – After Dong Zhuo backed Emperor Xian, Dong Min was appointed to the rank of Left General. After Lü Bu killed Dong Zhuo, Dong Min was labeled an accomplice and executed, and his head was put on public display

• Nephew: Dong Huang (died 192) – born in Lintao County, Gansu, fathered by Dong Zhuó (董擢, note different character than his own) elder brother of Dong Zhuo, executed

• Sons: Dong Zhuo had some infant sons who were enfeoffed and later presumably executed, and at least one son of his was born 171 but died earlier than 190

　• Granddaughter: Dong Bai (董白), born after 178, titled Lady of Weiyang. She was given her passage to adulthood ceremony and a grand title and lands at an unceremoniously young age despite a 50-year-old Zhu Jun's protests. For the grand ceremony, a platform was built to be five to six che – about in modern conversions – and she rode in a blue-covered golden carriage as thousands of soldiers marched behind her. Dong Huang was said to have given her the seal personally. Dong Bai was presumably executed.

　• Grandson: born 186, executed

• Daughter: married Niu Fu

• Foster Son: Lü Bu

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a 14th-century historical novel by Luo Guanzhong, was a romanticization of the events that occurred before and during the Three Kingdoms era. Because the real-life Dong Zhuo was already much of a cruel and treacherous character, the novel probably could do little more to accentuate that treachery and cruelty. It did, however, on two occasions deviate from the history.

Dong Zhuo and the three sworn brothers

Dong Zhuo first appeared as early as late in Chapter 1. Being sent to quell the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Dong Zhuo was defeated by the rebel leader Zhang Jiao and the battle was turning into a rout.

The three newly sworn brothers, Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, happened to be nearby. They then led their forces out to Dong Zhuo's rescue. Suddenly met with this new opposition, the rebels were swept off their feet and had to retreat.

After returning to camp, Dong Zhuo asked the three brothers what offices they currently held. And they replied that they held none. Dong Zhuo harrumphed and then ignored them. This angered Zhang Fei so much that he grabbed his sword and wanted to kill Dong Zhuo. He was however stopped by his two brothers, who suggested taking their service elsewhere. Thus was Dong Zhuo's life spared and the three brothers went their own way.

Dong Zhuo and Diaochan

Perhaps the most popular story about Dong Zhuo was the fictional love triangle involving Dong Zhuo, Lü Bu and Diaochan, which eventually led to the death of Dong Zhuo at the hands of his own adoptive son, Lü Bu.

After Dong Zhuo moved the capital to the more strategically sound Chang'an, Interior Minister Wang Yun started to contemplate a plot to assassinate the tyrant by using the petite Diaochan, a young singer who was brought up in his household but whom he had been treating like his own daughter, to plant the seed of dissension between Dong Zhuo and Lü Bu.

Inviting Lü Bu over one night, Wang Yun asked Diaochan to serve wine to the guest. Lü Bu was immediately seized by the girl's beauty. Well aware of this, Wang Yun then promised to marry Diaochan to the mighty warrior.

A few days later, however, Wang Yun laid a feast for Dong Zhuo and repeated the feat. Like Lü Bu, Dong Zhuo could not lift his eyes off Diaochan, who also displayed her prowess in song and dance. Dong Zhuo then brought Diaochan home and made her his concubine.

When Lü Bu heard about this early the next morning, he headed for Dong Zhuo's bedroom and peeped in through the window. There he saw Diaochan sitting up grooming her hair while Dong Zhuo was still asleep. Aware of Lü Bu's presence, Diaochan put up a sorrowful expression and pretended to wipe tears off her eyes with a handkerchief.

A similar incident recurred about a month later, but this time Dong Zhuo woke up in time to see Lü Bu staring fixedly at Diaochan. Lü Bu was then thrown out and forbidden from entering the house.

Then one day, while Dong Zhuo was holding a conversation with Emperor Xian, Lü Bu sneaked to his foster father's residence and met with Diaochan in the Fengyi Pavilion (鳳儀亭). Weeping, Diaochan pleaded with Lü Bu to rescue her from Dong Zhuo. Placing his halberd aside, Lü Bu held Diaochan in his arms and comforted her with words.

Right then, Dong Zhuo returned to find the duo in the pavilion. The startled Lü Bu turned to flee. Dong Zhuo grabbed the halberd and gave chase. Being too slow, Dong Zhuo could not catch up with the agile Lü Bu. He then hurled the halberd at Lü Bu but the latter fended it off and got away.

After the incident, Lü Bu became increasingly displeased with Dong Zhuo. The displeasure was further inflamed by Wang Yun, who suggested subtly that Lü Bu kill Dong Zhuo. Lü Bu was eventually persuaded.

The conspirators sent Li Su to fetch Dong Zhuo from his castle in Meiwu (郿塢) under the pretense that the emperor intended to abdicate the throne to the warlord. The overjoyed Dong Zhuo then came to the palace gate, where his troops were barred from entering. As Dong Zhuo's carriage neared the palace building, soldiers loyal to Wang Yun escorted Dong Zhuo to the trap they set. Then suddenly a general stabbed Dong Zhuo.

Injured only in the arms, Dong Zhuo then cried out for Lü Bu to save him. Lü Bu walked over and impaled Dong Zhuo's throat with his halberd, proclaiming, "I have an imperial decree to slay the rebel!"

In popular culture

Animation

• The character Toutaku Chuuei (Dong Zhuo Zhongying written in onyomi) of the anime short series, Ikki Tousen, is based roughly on Dong Zhuo.

Comics

• Dong Zhuo appears as a character in the Hong Kong manhua The Ravages of Time illustrated by Chan Mou.

• Dong Zhuo appears as a major antagonist in the manga series Sōten Kōro, which is loosely based on Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Games

• Dong Zhuo is featured as a playable character in Koei's Dynasty Warriors and Warriors Orochi video game series.

• In the collectible card game Magic: The Gathering there is a card named Dong Zhou, the Tyrant, in the Portal: Three Kingdoms set.

• Dong Zhuo is a major faction leader in the strategy game Total War: Three Kingdoms.

生平

邊塞從軍

董卓出生于豫州潁川郡。生來具備過人的怪力，能在馬上左右開弓。年少時遊歷羌胡聚居地，與豪帥結交。後從事耕作，豪帥來訪時以謀生的耕牛宰殺大宴，彼此禮尚往來。隴西太守徵辟董卓為郡兵馬掾，巡視塞下。涼州刺史成就又徵辟董卓為從事，使領兵騎，討捕胡人。漢桓帝末年，董卓被徵召為漢禁軍羽林郎，後又為護匈奴中郎將張奐部下作軍司馬，討伐漢陽羌人，董卓作戰粗猛有謀，力建戰功。一共討殺一萬多名羌軍士兵，並親自斬殺羌軍軍長豪帥。因此羌人們都非常懼怕董卓，絲毫不敢犯。後來董卓升為郎中，獲得絲絹九千匹，並將賞賜盡分部下。後為廣武令、蜀郡北部都尉、西域戊己校尉，但是因為犯罪而被革職。并州刺史段熲薦董卓于公府，司徒袁隗闢為掾。先後升為并州刺史，河東太守。

中平元年（185年），漢靈帝封董卓為中郎將，命他討伐黃巾軍，卻失敗，然後被免職。後來韓遂、邊章部羌軍起兵涼州，董卓再度被授予中郎將軍銜，隨破虜將軍張溫討伐羌軍。利用羌軍因為出現流星而萌生退意，主動出擊，斬殺數千人。一次董卓率領漢軍被數萬羌胡軍包困，糧食斷絕，董卓假裝捕魚，截流他撤退必經之路的渡口成堰塞湖（做給羌軍看、假裝捕魚），堰塞湖中水滿數十里，董卓從堰塞湖下的堤壩下面偷渡漢軍成功，偷渡後董卓決堰。等到數萬羌胡軍發現董卓偷渡、追擊董卓部漢軍時，決堰造成的大水已經很深了，羌胡軍無法渡過河追擊董卓部漢軍。當時漢軍六個軍去隴西參加東漢與羌的戰爭，五個軍被羌軍擊敗，只有董卓部漢軍全數還營。董卓從東漢與羌的戰爭前線撤下後駐紮在陝西扶風（在張溫軍中唯一全師而還），封斄鄉（雍州武功）侯，邑千戶。中平五年（188年），韓遂和邊章部羌軍再度來犯，封董卓為前將軍、斄鄉侯（斄音台），與左將軍皇甫嵩大破韓遂等羌軍。中平六年（189年），徵用為少府，但董卓拒絕去京城任職，於是朝廷改其為并州牧。

而在《太平御覽》卷496引《江表傳》則稱董卓與鉅鹿郡太守郭典一同進攻退守曲陽的黃巾首領張寶時郭典打算作圍塹但董卓不同意。而後漢軍破黃巾賊後時人用「郭君圍壍，董將不許。幾令狐狸，化為豺虎。賴我郭君，不畏強御。轉機之間，敵為窮虜。猗猗惠君，保完疆土。」來諷刺董卓。

控制京城

中平六年（189年），大將軍何進欲除宦官，為加強自己力量，何進下令調動董卓部進洛陽。時董卓屯河東郡，進軍至澠池時朝廷派遣種劭宣讀歸還敕令，董卓狐疑朝廷有變，但在種劭的堅持下退至夕陽亭。結果董卓部漢軍進洛陽前，何進已經被宦官處死。公卿以下與董卓共迎漢帝于邙山阪下。初入雒陽時兵力只有3千人，為求營造大軍壓境的場面以震懾鄰近諸侯，每晚令士兵出城，翌日再大張旗鼓入城，令到雒陽全城有大軍源源不絕進軍之虛況。不久令其弟董旻聯合吳匡殺掉上司何苗，又招攬呂布殺掉丁原，很快就吞併附近兩大軍閥兵力。隨後董卓廢少帝，立劉協即位（是為漢獻帝），且不久就殺死何太后，專斷朝政，並且剝奪漢和帝、漢安帝、漢順帝、漢桓帝的廟號以及恭懷皇后、敬隱皇后、恭愍皇后的尊號。

董卓遷太尉，領前將軍事，更封郿侯。董卓既已掌權，亦思拉攏豪傑賢士，協助遭黨錮之禍事件受到委屈的三君陳蕃、竇武還有八俊李膺等人申冤與平反。不久進封為相國，董卓母為池陽君。後來命令荀爽和蔡邕等人赴任朝廷官職；而後袁紹與董卓發生爭執，隻身離開雒陽，董卓本想殺害袁紹，經過手下伍瓊和周毖等勸說，乃改以懷柔手段安撫之，命袁紹為渤海太守，同時也提拔另一批名士為官，如陳留太守張邈、冀州刺史韓馥和豫州刺史孔伷等人，後來這些人卻全部成為日後討伐董卓的主力。與此同時，董卓自己的親信僅為列校，並未被董卓提拔。

聯軍討董

獻帝初平元年（190年），關東聯軍以討董為名起兵，但大多並未對董卓發兵；190年1月17日，董卓遷都長安。董卓的部隊焚燒洛陽宮室、宗廟、府庫、民宅以及發掘陵墓。

董卓知道自己的所作所為不得人心，便想以力服人。董卓派兵到陽城，正好面對關東諸侯軍的勢力，董卓大為震驚，又董卓女婿牛輔以兵三萬征討伐河東白波軍大敗，擔心兩方連絡，便先在正月十二日癸丑（3月6日），派李儒鴆殺了廢帝弘農王劉辯。另外時值二月社，許多百姓出來參與祭祀活動，董卓軍隊將他們全部砍頭，並駕著百姓的牛車，裝載婦女財物，把人頭系在車轅上，號稱斬獲賊寇。曹操起兵追擊，在滎陽汴水遭受徐榮擊敗，董卓虐殺被俘虜的關東聯軍士兵，聯軍也發生內訌而解散。

董卓末路

董卓在朝野內外都廣佈親信，朝廷命光祿勳宣璠冊封董卓為太師，位在諸侯王上。董卓僭用近似天子的服飾及車駕，呼召三台，尚書以下官員自行繞過朝廷到董卓家中議事，官員與董卓言語間略有不合即被當場殺死，引起朝野不滿。司徒王允設反間計，挑撥董卓大將呂布殺死董卓。根據史書記載，董卓身軀肥胖，棄屍後陳屍示眾；守屍的士兵在董卓肚臍眼中插上燈芯點燃照明，持續數天。

軼事

• 董卓早期很羨慕上司張奐能夠保疆衛國，立下功勞，因此派哥哥送上一百匹絲絹作為謝禮，然而張奐討厭董卓為人，堅持拒絕董卓的送禮。

• 袁紹在誅殺十常侍時，董卓率先一步找到少帝劉辯與陳留王劉協，公卿百官奉北芒阪下迎駕，崔烈作為前導，董卓率領步騎兵數千前來，崔烈呵斥董卓避讓，董卓罵崔烈說：「我晝夜三百里來，談什麼避讓，我難道不能砍掉你的腦袋嗎！」

• 《英雄記》記載董卓在郿塢所儲存的黃金有兩三萬斤，白銀有八九萬斤，內存的珠玉織錦、玩具雜物等堆積如山，多得數不清。

死後

董卓餘黨李傕、郭汜帶兵進城，殺害王允，並把持朝廷大權。李傕等人把董卓骨灰合斂一棺殮葬，殮葬當天，大風大雨，雷電劈中其棺木，水流入墓穴，漂浮其棺木。

唐朝時隴西狄道的百姓有祭祀董卓的，高適上書力陳董卓罪惡，請求朝廷禁止此類行為。

影響

董卓鑄造小錢，導致「錢貨不行」，直到魏明帝太和元年（227年）四月，穩定的五銖錢才在三國之一的曹魏得到恢復。

家庭

董卓死後，其全家被王允下令逮至郿塢塢門滿門抄斬。

• 董君雅，董卓之父，潁川綸氏尉。

• 池陽君（103－192），董卓之生母，只知封號，未知其姓氏，死時年有九十。

• 董擢，字孟高，董卓之兄，早卒。

• 董旻，字叔穎，董卓之弟，隨董卓征戰，後被皇甫嵩斬殺。

• 董璜，董卓之姪，董擢之子，隨董卓征戰。

• 牛輔，董卓女婿，董卓死後帶領董卓餘部，後左右見財起殺機，獻其首級到長安。

• 呂布，董卓義子，與董卓侍婢私通，又受到董卓擲戟羞辱，與王允同謀殺董卓。

• 董氏，董卓之女，後嫁牛輔。

• 董某（171年生），董卓子，早亡。

• 董某，董卓子，董白父。

• 董某，董卓子，董卓孫（見下）之父。未詳與董白父是否一人。

• 董某（190年生），董卓幼子，妾室所出，襁褓中即封侯。

• 董白（176年後生），董卓孫女，未行笄禮就被封為渭陽君，印綬為董璜作使者所授。

• 董某（186年生），董卓孫，董卓愛之如親子。

部下

• 劉靖，董卓屬下，任別部司馬之職，曾奉董卓之命屯四千步騎於安定郡

• 華雄，都督，胡軫與呂布內鬥被孫堅斬殺。

• 劉囂，司隸校尉，領董卓命誅殺及充公為子不孝，為臣不忠，為吏不清，為弟不順者的財物。

• 李儒，東漢時博士，曾為弘農王劉辯的郎中令，被董卓下令奉上毒酒害死劉辯，演義設定為董卓女婿。

• 田儀，主簿，因與董卓奴婢投向其屍被王允等人所殺。

• 牛輔，董卓女婿，董卓死後帶領董卓餘部，後左右見財起殺機，獻其首級到長安。

　• 董承，原牛輔的部將，牛輔死後開始與董卓舊部爭奪長安的主導權。

　• 董越，中郎將，被牛輔懷疑欲忌害他而被殺。

• 王允，與呂布同謀殺董卓。不寬恕董卓餘黨，導致餘黨反撲，王允和其家族亦被處死，關中亦大亂。

　• 徐榮，唯一擊敗孫堅和曹操的董卓部下，牛輔死後王允派徐榮和胡軫抵抗郭汜李傕張濟等，徐榮戰死。

　• 胡軫，東郡太守，與呂布行軍時內鬥，被孫堅擊敗，牛輔死後隨王允抗郭汜、李傕等，胡軫戰敗投降。

• 呂布，董卓義子，與董卓侍婢私通，又受到董卓擲戟羞辱，與王允同謀殺董卓。

　• 李肅，曾參與誅殺董卓，在攻擊牛輔時因戰敗被呂布誅殺。

• 李傕，在董卓被呂布、王允聯合所殺之後，與同僚郭汜、張濟等人合作攻進長安。

　• 賈詡，董卓死後曾勸李傕等回擊長安，有毒士之稱，黃初四年六月去世。

　• 楊奉，原李傕部屬，後叛離李傕，護送天子東歸。後投奔袁術又叛袁術降呂布，最終被劉備所殺。

　• 段煨，護送天子東歸，和楊奉中途內閧，為郭汜領兵相救。

　• 楊定，鎮南將軍，李傕殺樊稠後為求自保，護送天子東歸，後被李傕擊敗轉逃至荊州。

　• 李蒙，與李傕攻入長安，後為李傕猜忌所殺。

　• 王方，與李傕攻入長安。

• 樊稠，與李傕攻入長安，後為李傕猜忌所殺。

• 郭汜，校尉，牛輔死後與李傕內鬥，大耗涼州軍力。

　• 伍習，郭汜的部將，反叛郭汜，並率軍襲殺了郭汜。

• 張濟，校尉，牛輔死後李傕與郭汜內鬥，張濟從中調解。張濟引兵入荊州劉表攻南陽，中流矢而死。

　• 張繡，張濟侄子，接管當時戰死的張濟之軍隊，佔據宛城，與劉表聯合。

• 張楊，日後與袁紹對抗自己，多次迎接獻帝，後因欲助呂布對抗曹操，為部下楊醜所殺。

• 周毖、伍瓊，二人向董卓提拔一眾軍閥，但都聯合反董，董卓以通敵殺害。

• 楊彪、趙謙，二人反對遷都長安，不獲董卓接納。

• 宣璠，曾經奉董卓之命誅殺太傅袁隗一家、策免楊彪、黃琬等，並依董卓旨意封董卓為太師。董卓死後隨獻帝東歸，遭後來反悔的李傕等董卓舊部追擊，宣璠與光祿勳鄧淵等人被李傕軍追上並殺之。

藝術形象

樂賦

• 曹操《董逃歌詞》，又作《董卓歌》，《三國志·袁紹傳註釋》提及裡面的歌詞不符合董卓事蹟，「董卓歌」這名稱尚有爭議。

戲劇

• 香港邵氏電影《貂蟬》（1958年）：由羅維飾演。

• 香港麗的電視台電視劇《三國春秋》（1976年）：由陳有后飾演。

• 香港亞洲電視劇《貂蟬》（1987年）：由王偉飾演。

• 台灣中視電視劇《貂蟬》（1988年）：由寇世勳飾演。

• 中國大陸太原電視台電視劇《關公》（1993年）：由徐錦榮飾演。

• 中國大陸中央電視台電視劇《三國演義》（1994年）：由里坡飾演。

• 台灣華視電視劇《關公》（1996年）：由楊群飾演。

• 電視劇《曹操》（1999年）：由王紀文飾演。

• 中國大陸電視劇《呂布與貂蟬》（2001年）：由德力格爾飾演。

• 中國大陸電視劇《貂蟬》（2002年）：由韓再峰飾演。

• 電視劇《曹操與蔡文姬》（2002年）：由呂曉禾飾演。

• 中國大陸中央電視台電視劇《武聖關公》（2004年）：由韓伯晨飾演。

• 台灣民視/八大電視劇《終極三國》（2009年）：由陳博正飾演。

• 中國大陸電視劇《三國》（2010年，又稱《新三國》）：由呂曉禾飾演。

• 電視劇《曹操》（2014年）：由石黎明飾演。

• 中國湖南衛視電視劇《武神趙子龍》（2016年）：由韓東飾演。

• 網路劇《終極三國》（2017年）：由姚卓君飾演。

• 日本電影《新解釋·三國志》（2020年）：由佐藤二朗飾演。

• 香港電影《真·三國無雙》（2021年）：由林雪飾演。

動漫遊戲

• 真·三國無雙系列 / 無雙OROCHI系列（光榮公司開發）

• 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）

• 《代號鳶》

評價

• 董卓掌權時有民謠：「千里草（董），何青青，十日卜（卓），尤不生（不得生）。」

• 盧植：「卓兇悍難制，必生後患。」（後漢書·卷六十四）

• 公孫瓚：「董卓造為亂始。」「卓既無禮，帝主見質。」（卷七十三 劉虞公孫瓚陶謙列傳第六十三-後漢書（唐）李賢等注）

• 劉辯：「逆臣見迫兮命不延。」

• 劉協：「董卓逆亂，凶國害民。」（三國志·吳書一）

• 劉備：「曩者董卓造為亂階，自是之後，群凶縱橫，殘剝海內。」（三國志·劉備傳）「董卓首難，蕩覆京畿，曹操階禍，竊執天衡。」（卷三十二 蜀書二 先主傳第二-三國志（晉）陳壽（南朝宋）裴松之注）

• 劉禪：「董卓造難，震蕩京畿。」（三國志·蜀書三）

• 孫堅：「卓逆天無道，蕩覆王室。」（三國志·吳書一 ）

• 袁紹：「今賊臣作亂，朝廷遷移。」（卷七十四上 袁紹劉表列傳第六十四上-後漢書（唐）李賢等注） 「天下健者，豈唯董公？」（卷六 魏書六 董二袁劉傳第六-三國志（晉）陳壽（南朝宋）裴松之注）

• 袁術：「昔董卓作亂，破壞王室，禍害術門戶。」（《三國志》卷七 魏書七）

• 曹操：「董卓之罪，暴于四海。」（三國志·魏書）

• 曹丕：「初平之元，董卓殺主鴆後，蕩覆王室。是時四海既困中平之政，兼惡卓之凶逆，家家思亂，人人自危。」（《典論·自序》）

• 常林：「賊臣虎據，華夏震慄。」（卷二十三 魏書二十三 和常楊杜趙裴傳第二十三-三國志（晉）陳壽（南朝宋）裴松之）

• 梁衍：「董卓雖誅之，而不能盡忠于國。」（卷七十一 皇甫嵩朱俊列傳第六十一-後漢書（唐）李賢等注）

• 臧洪：「漢室不幸，皇綱失統，賊臣董卓，乘釁縱害，禍加至尊，毒流百姓。大懼淪喪社稷，翦覆四海。」（後漢書·卷五十八）

• 劉岱：「卓無道，天下所共攻，死在旦暮，不足為憂。」（後漢書·卷七十四）

• 曹叡：「嗚呼！昔皇天降戾于漢，俾逆臣董卓，播厥凶虐，焚滅京都，劫遷大駕。」（《三國志·魏書》）

• 王粲：「昔大人見臨洮而銅人鑄，臨洮生卓而銅人毀；世有卓而大亂作，大亂作而卓身滅，抑有以也 。」

• 鄭泰：「董卓強忍寡義，志欲無饜。」

• 蓋勛：「昔伊尹、霍光權以立功，猶可寒心。足下小丑，何以終此？賀者在門，吊者在廬，可不慎哉！」（《後漢書·虞傅蓋臧列傳第四十八》）「貪人敗類，京師其必有變。」〈袁宏《後漢紀》〉

• 荀彧：「卓暴虐已甚，必以亂終，無能為也。」（《三國志·魏書·荀彧荀攸賈詡傳第十》）

• 荀攸：「董卓驕忍無親，雖資強兵，實一匹夫耳。」（《資治通鑑·卷六十》）

• 蔡邕：「董公性剛而遂非，終難濟也。」（《後漢書·蔡邕列傳》）「如卓者，陛下當益隆委任，數加訪問，厚其爵賞，責以相業之成。」（蔡中郎集 卷九 薦太尉董卓表）

• 王允：「卓，國之大賊，殺主殘臣，天地所不祐，人神所同疾。」

• 鮑信：「卓擁強兵，有異志，今不早圖，將為所制。」（《三國志·卷六》 ）

• 皇甫酈：「昔有窮后羿恃其善射，不思患難，以至于斃。近董公之強，明將軍目所見，內有王公以為內主，外有董旻、承、璜以為鯁毒，呂布受恩而反圖之，斯須之間，頭縣竿端，此有勇而無謀也。」

• 伍孚：「恨不得磔裂奸賊于都市，以謝天地！」（卷七十二 董卓列傳第六十二-後漢書（唐）李賢等注）

• 皇甫嵩：「昔與明公俱為鴻鵠;但明公今日變為鳳凰也。」

• 孫權：「天降喪亂，皇綱失敘，逆臣乘釁，劫奪國柄，始於董卓，終於曹操，窮凶極惡，以覆四海，至令九州幅裂，普天無統，民神痛怨，靡所戾止。」（《三國志·卷四十七·吳書二·吳主傳第二》）

• 張紘：「董卓擅廢置，害太后、弘農王，略蒸宮人，發掘園陵，暴逆至此，故諸州郡雄豪聞聲慕義。」（三國志·吳書一）

• 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。」（卷六 魏書六 董二袁劉傳第六-三國志（晉）陳壽（南朝宋）裴松之注）

• 《三國志》作者陳壽評曰：「董卓狼戾賊忍，暴虐不仁，自書契已來，殆未之有也。」

• 劉淵：「黃巾海沸于九州，群閹毒流于四海，董卓因之肆其猖勃，曹操父子凶逆相尋。」（《晉書·卷一百一·載記第一》）

• 陸機：「遠惟王莽篡逆之事，近覽董卓擅權之際，億兆悼心，愚智同痛。」

• 裴松之：「桀、紂無道，秦、莽縱虐，皆多歷年所，然後眾惡乃著。董卓自竊權柄，至于隕斃，計其日月，未盈三周，而禍崇山嶽，毒流四海。其殘賊之性，寔豺狼不若。」（《三國志·魏書·荀彧荀攸賈詡傳第十》）

• 《後漢書》作者范曄對董卓早年的性格評為「麤猛有謀」。又評曰：「董卓初以虓虎闞為情，因遭崩剝之埶，故得蹈藉彞倫，毀裂畿服。夫以刳肝斮趾之性，則腢生不足以厭其快，然猶折意縉紳，遲疑陵奪，尚有盜竊之道焉。及殘寇乘之，倒山傾海，昆岡之火，自茲而焚，版蕩之篇，於焉而極。嗚呼，人之生也難矣！天地之不仁甚矣！」

• 常璩：「漢末大亂，雄傑並起。若董卓、呂布、二袁、韓、馬、張、楊、劉表之徒，兼州董郡，眾動萬計，叱吒之間，皆自謂漢祖可踵，桓、文易邁。」

• 李世民：「至如趙高之殞二世，董卓之鴆弘農，人神所疾，異代同憤。」（《全唐文·卷四》）

• 高適：「董卓地兼形勝，手握兵鈐，顛而不扶，禍則先唱。興晉陽之甲，君側未除；入洛陽之宮，臣節如掃。至乃發掘園寢，逼辱妃嬪。太后之崩，豈稱天命！宏農之廢，孰謂人心？敢諷朝廷，以自尊貴；大肆剽虜，以極誅求。焚燒都邑，馳突放橫。衣冠凍餒，倚死牆壁之間；兆庶困窮，生塗草莽之上。於是天地憤怒，鬼神號哭。而山東義旗，攘袂爭起，連州跨郡，皆以誅卓為名。故兵挫於孫堅，氣奪於袁紹。僭擬與服，黨助奸邪，驅蹙東人，脅帝西幸。淫刑以逞，有湯鑊之甚，要之糜爛，刳剔異端。乃謂漢鼎可移，郿塢方盛，殊不知禍盈惡稔，未或不亡。故神贊允誠，天假布手，母妻屠戮，種族無留。懸首燃臍，遺臭萬代，骨肉灰燼，不其快哉！」（《後漢賊臣董卓廟議》）

• 劉知幾：「漢之有董卓，猶秦之有趙高。」

• 藤原仲麻呂：「董卓暴慢既行於國。」（《》五十七、五十八條）

• 蘇軾：「衣中甲厚行何懼，塢里金多退足憑；畢竟英雄誰得似，臍脂自照不須燈。」

• 錢時：「卓，誠巨奸，無所逃罪也。若真能感悟自悔，其非收召諸賢，傾心委倚，使朝廷之上一變而為君子之規模，宗社奠安，海宇清晏，不特身免刑戮，亦可長保祿位。蓋愆補過，尚庶幾焉而卓則不如是也。嗚呼！亦愚矣。」（《兩漢筆記》）

• 郝經：「卓為羿莽而奸計不足，其暴戾淫虐過之……自昔國亡驅除之際未有若斯之亂且酷也。」「召戎起釁。運極厄防。祲塞風饕，虎躍鯨沛。逆鈇淬日，凶鋒掃孛。翻覆宗社，廢立君主。血蔑咸京，金盈郿塢。岩岩公師，烈烈尚父。雖伏天誅，竟委皇綱。」（《續後漢書》）

• 羅貫中：「董卓遷都漢帝憂，生靈滾滾喪荒丘。狗銜骸骨筋猶動，烏啄骷髏血尚流。郿塢追魂憑李肅，宮門取命有溫侯。奸雄已死戈矛下，直到如今罵未休。」「霸業成時為帝王，不成且作富家郎。誰知天意無私曲，郿塢方成已滅亡。」

• 丁耀亢：「卓近羌，粗勇無人理。當時不內召，直一番將耳。漢鼎將移，如籬落不牢，而虎狼入之，遂以成荼毒弒廢之禍。及塢守虜，自謂大事不成則退以自老，何異曹爽不失富家翁之言？真一粗莽蠢之物耳！燃臍達旦，脂膏自煎，何快也！」（《天史》）

• 蔡東藩：「山東兵起，董卓遣將出御，未聞敗衄，而忽議西遷，意者其即由賊膽心虛，有以懾其魄而奪其氣歟？然于伍孚行刺，則殺之；于周毖伍瓊之進諫，則亦殺之；于袁隗袁基之有關紹術，則又殺之；窮凶極惡，何其殘忍乃爾？且屠戮富人，焚毀宮室，二百里內，不留雞犬，雖如秦政項羽立暴虐，亦未有過于是者。」

注釋

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