Dong Zhuo (-22 May 192 CE0); courtesy name Zhongying; was a warlord of the late Eastern Han dynasty. After the death of Emperor Ling in 189 CE and a clash between court officials and a faction of eunuchs in the palace; Dong Zhuo took advantage of the chaos to seize control of the capital Luoyang. He subsequently deposed Emperor Shao and instated the emperor's brother instead; Emperor Xian.

An excessively cruel and tyrannical ruler; Dong Zhuo rose to great power in the Han imperial court; controlling Emperor Xian for a brief period of time. A coalition of regional warlords and officials united to try and overthrow Dong Zhuo; forcing him to move the capital to Chang'an (present day Xian).

Dong Zhuo was eventually assassinated in 192 CE by his foster son Lu Bu; in a plot orchestrated by Interior Minister Wang Yun. His cruelty and treacherous behaviour was accentuated further in historical novel 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'. The book also created a fictional love triangle between Dong Zhuo; Lu Bu and the song girl Diaochan; sent by Wang Yun to foster grief between Dong Zhuo and his foster son.