Who they were
A distant clansman of the Han imperial house but of humble means — tradition says he sold sandals and mats in his youth — Liu Bei drew men to him. His closeness with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei became celebrated (the “peach garden oath” is a novelistic embellishment of their recorded bond).
What they did
Three visits recruited Zhuge Liang to his service (207). Allied with Sun Quan, he shared in the victory at Red Cliffs (208), took Yi province (Sichuan) in 214, and proclaimed himself emperor in 221, claiming the Han succession. Defeated by Wu at Yiling (222), he died at Baidicheng in 223, entrusting his son to Zhuge Liang.
Legacy
In the Three Kingdoms story, Liu Bei stands as the ideal of the benevolent ruler.