Service under Emperors Wen and Xiaowu

It is not known when Shen Youzhi was born. However, it is known that his father Shen Shuren (沈叔仁) was an army officer under Emperor Wen's brother Liu Yiji (劉義季) the Prince of Hengyang and was a cousin of the famed general Shen Qingzhi (沈慶之). Shen Shuren's household was not rich, and he grew up in poverty after apparently losing his father early in life. In 450, when Northern Wei forces made a major invasion into Liu Song territory, Shen Youzhi was conscripted, and he went to see the general Liu Zunkao (劉遵考) to request a sergeant position. Liu was not impressed by his appearance and refused his request, so he went to follow his distance uncle Shen Qingzhi. However, Shen Qingzhi did not initially make him an officer either, and he did not become an officer until 452, when he followed Shen Qingzhi in a campaign against the Xiyang Aborigines (西陽蠻, located in modern Huanggang, Hubei).

In 453, Emperor Wen was assassinated by his crown prince Liu Shao, who then seized the throne. Instead of acquiescing to Liu Shao's reign, Shen Qingzhi persuaded Liu Shao's brother Liu Jun the Prince of Wuling into an uprising against Liu Shao. Shen Youzhi was part of Shen Youzhi's army against Liu Shao, and at the Battle of Xinting (新亭, in modern Nanjing, Jiangsu), near the capital Jiankang, he suffered severe injuries but recovered. After Liu Shao was defeated and killed and Liu Jun became emperor (as Emperor Xiaowu), Shen Youzhi was created the Marquess of Pingluo and promoted.

In 459, when Emperor Xiaowu's brother Liu Dan (劉誕) the Prince of Jingling rose against him, Shen Youzhi again joined Shen Qingzhi in the campaign against Liu Dan by besieging Liu Dan's post of Guangling (廣陵, in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu), and he contributed to the victory over Liu Dan. Emperor Xiaowu wanted to reward him greatly, but Shen Qingzhi, perhaps because Shen Youzhi was a relative, reduced the award, and Shen Youzhi became resentful of Shen Qingzhi after this point.

Service under Emperor Qianfei

In 464, Emperor Xiaowu died and was succeeded by his impulsive and violent son Emperor Qianfei. Emperor Qianfei, suspecting the high-level officials of conspiring against him, soon carried out a campaign of terror against them, and because he feared assassinations, he greatly endeared himself to a number of fierce army officers, including Shen Youzhi, Zong Yue (宗越), Tan Jin (譚金), and Tong Taiyi (童太一), making them command his personal guards. Shen, along with the others, participated in his slaughters of the high-level officials. After one such attack in winter 475 against Emperor Qianfei's uncle and brother-in-law He Mai (何邁), whose wife Liu Yingmei (劉英媚) the Princess Xincai Emperor Qianfei engaged in an incestuous relationship with, Shen Qingzhi tried to enter the palace to persuade Emperor Qianfei to change his ways, but was stopped by roadblocks that Emperor Qianfei had set up in anticipation of his attempt. Emperor Qianfei then ordered Shen Youzhi to deliver poison to Shen Qingzhi to force him to commit suicide. Shen Qingzhi refused to take the poison, and Shen Youzhi then suffocated him with a blanket. In less than a month, however, while Shen and the other key officers Emperor Qianfei trusted were out of the palace, Emperor Qianfei's attendant Shou Jizhi (壽寂之) assassinated him, and Emperor Qianfei's uncle Liu Yu then took the throne as Emperor Ming.

Service under Emperor Ming

Emperor Ming did not trust the guard officers that Emperor Qianfei had endeared, and he offered to give them commandery governor posts to get them to leave the palace. However, they were largely fearful that Emperor Ming had other intentions, and they entered into a plot against Emperor Ming. Shen Youzhi, however, informed Emperor Ming of the plot, and Emperor Ming then had those officers executed, except for Shen, whom he began to trust and made him a guard commander again.

Meanwhile, Deng Wan (鄧琬), the chief of staff for Emperor Qianfei's brother Liu Zixun the Prince of Jin'an and governor of Jiang Province (江州, modern Jiangxi and Fujian), refused to accept Emperor Ming's offer to promote Liu Zixun, and instead started an uprising in Liu Zixun's name, declaring Liu Zixun emperor in spring 466. Soon, nearly the entire empire pledged loyalty to Liu Zixun, and Emperor Ming was left with control of only the several commanderies around Jiankang. However, Liu Zixun's forces proceeded slowly toward Jiankang, and Emperor Ming used the opportunity to gather his troops in preparation of a war. Shen Youzhi was one of the generals. After his commanding general Yin Xiaozu (殷孝祖) was killed in battle, initially his officers wanted Shen Youzhi to take over command of the army, but judging that another general, Jiang Faxing (江法興), would be unwilling to submit to him, Shen humbled himself and offered the command to Jiang, preserving unity of the forces. Shen Youzhi subsequently was particularly successful against Liu Zixun's general Liu Hu (劉胡), and his successes, combined with the successes of Zhang Xingshi (張興世), caused Liu Zixun's forces to collapse. In fall 466, Shen Youzhi arrived at Liu Zixun's headquarters at Xunyang (尋陽, in modern Jiujiang, Jiangxi), and he executed Liu Zixun and delivered the head to Jiankang. For his successes, Emperor Ming created him the Duke of Zhenyang.

Emperor Ming, however, made the crucial mistake of appearing not to accepting the pledge of allegiance of Xue Andu (薛安都), the governor of Xu Province (徐州, modern northern Jiangsu and northern Anhui), instead sending Shen and Zhang Yong (張永) north with troops, which frightened Xue and led him to surrender to Northern Wei. When Shen and Zhang subsequently arrived at Xue's headquarters at Pengcheng (彭城, in modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu), their siege of the city failed, forcing them to withdraw in early 467. They were pursued and then defeated by Xue and the Northern Wei general Yuchi Yuan (尉遲元), suffering extreme losses. In fall 467, against Shen's advice, Emperor Ming ordered Shen to again attack Pengcheng, and he was again defeated by Yuchi's forces. He suffered major injuries in the battle, but was able to escape.

In 469, Emperor Ming made Shen the governor of Ying Province (郢州, modern eastern Hubei), and there, he began to build up a personal army which he hoped would be loyal to him.

In 472, Emperor Ming died and was succeeded by his son Emperor Houfei.

Service under Emperor Houfei

Emperor Houfei's administration was initially dominated by Emperor Ming's associates Wang Daolong (王道隆) and Ruan Dianfu (阮佃夫), who distrusted the strict governor of the important Jing Province (荊州, modern central and western Hubei), Cai Xingzong (蔡興宗). They therefore recalled Cai to the capital and moved Shen from Ying Province to Jing Province. According to historical records written in the subsequent Southern Qi Dynasty, Shen effectively made Jing Province into a personal domain, disregarding imperial directives, and saving resources in preparation of eventual war. He was said to be temperamental and austere but talented, and his subordinates feared him and did not dare to hide truths from him. It was also said that the social order was so well maintained that people could sleep at night without closing doors.

In 474, when Emperor Houfei's uncle Liu Xiufan (劉休範) the Prince of Guiyang declared a rebellion, he manufactured a prophecy in which Shen Youzhi was referred to was prime minister, and had the prophetic writing delivered to Shen, who however declined to join his rebellion, and subsequently aligned with Wang Sengqian (王僧虔) the governor of Xiang Province (湘州, modern Hunan), Zhang Xingshi the governor of Yong Province (雍州, modern northwestern Hubei and southwestern Henan), and the chief of staff of Liu Xie (劉燮) the Prince of Jinxi and governor of Ying Province to attack Liu Xiufan's base at Xunyang, forcing Xunyang's surrender and killing Liu Xiufan's two sons. Liu Xiufan, meanwhile, while sieging Jiankang, was killed by assassins sent by the general Xiao Daocheng, and his rebellion collapsed.

In the aftermaths of Liu Xiufan's defeat, the high-level officials wanted to recall Shen to the capital, but did not dare to do so without his agreement in fear of causing him to rebel, and so sent messenger in the name of Emperor Ming's wife Empress Dowager Wang to try to persuade Shen to accept a promotion and a recall. Shen declined, and the high-level officials permitted him to remain at Jing Province. However, concerned about Shen, Xiao, who had been friendly with Shen up to this point – so much so that Shen Youzhi's son Shen Wenhe (沈文和) married Xiao's daughter – sent the general who had assassinated Liu Xiufan, Zhang Jing'er (張敬兒), to be the governor of Yong Province in 475, to prepare for an eventual betrayal of Shen. Shen tried to foster a relationship with Zhang, and believed incorrectly that he had won Zhang over to his side, but Zhang remained secretly still loyal to Xiao. In 476, when Emperor Houfei's cousin Liu Jingsu (劉景素) the Prince of Jianping and governor of South Xu Province (南徐州, modern western central Jiangsu) rebelled, it was rumored that Shen was aligned with Liu Jingsu, and he tried to show his loyalty by sending an army to aid Xiao and other imperial generals against Liu Jingsu, although by the time his forces arrived at Jiankang, Liu Jingsu had already been defeated.

Emperor Houfei was a violent and unpredictable teenage emperor, and he often killed whoever he encountered. On one occasion, he was set to kill Xiao, and Xiao then engaged Emperor Houfei's attendants to kill him. On the night of Qi Xi in 477, Emperor Houfei's attendant Yang Yufu (楊玉夫) did so, and Xiao took effective control of the imperial government, making Emperor Houfei's brother Liu Zhun the Prince of Ancheng emperor (as Emperor Shun).

Uprising against Xiao Daocheng

Shen Youzhi often claimed that he had entered into a secret oath with Emperor Ming, written on white silk that he then sewed into his vest. Upon hearing of Emperor Houfei's death, his staff members Zong Yanzhi (宗儼之) and Zang Yin (臧寅) both tried to persuade him to start an uprising immediately against Xiao, but Shen failed to do so because his oldest son Shen Yuanyan (沈元琰) was still in Jiankang. Xiao then subsequently sent Shen Yuanyan to Shen Youzhi, along with weapons that Emperor Houfei had used to slice his victims open, to Shen Youzhi to explain the reasons why he had Emperor Houfei assassinated. However, Shen was still displeased that Xiao had taken over the government, and he stated that he would rather be like the Cao Wei general Wang Ling, who had unsuccessfully tried to overthrow Sima Yi, than be Jia Chong, who submitted to and served Sima Yi's sons Sima Shi and Sima Zhao and grandson Emperor Wu of Jin. However, he still could not immediately start his uprising, but kept Shen Yuanyan at Jing Province.

Soon, claiming that he had received secret instructions from Empress Dowager Wang, hidden in a pair of candles, Shen did announce a rebellion, accusing Xiao of intending to usurp the throne. However, the provincial governors whom he invited to join him all declined and either resisted him or stood by. Shen nevertheless had a strong army, and the imperial army generals were apprehensive about facing him. He initially progressed quickly toward Jiankang, but as he passed Yingcheng (郢城, in modern Wuhan, Hubei), he was provoked by insults of Liu Shilong (柳世隆), the chief of staff for Liu Zan (劉贊) the Prince of Wuling and governor of Ying Province into stopping and laying siege to the well-fortified city. Meanwhile, Xiao had Shen Qingzhi's son Shen Wenji (沈文季) arrest Shen Youzhi's brother Shen Dengzhi (沈登之) and execute Shen Youzhi's clan, to avenge Shen Qingzhi.

In 478, with his forces unable to capture Yingcheng, Shen Youzhi's soldiers began to desert. Shen then aggravated the situation by imposing severe punishments on the commanding officers of deserting soldiers – which in turn caused them to desert. Shen's officer Liu Rangbing (劉攘兵) then surrendered to Liu Shilong, causing his forces to collapse. He tried to retreat to Jiangling (the capital of Jing Province), but by the time he did so, Zhang Jing'er had already captured Jiangling and killed Shen Yuanyan, whom Shen Youzhi had left in charge of Jiangling. Shen's remaining army, seeing that Jiangling had fallen, collapsed, and he initially tried to flee, but realizing that his escape route had been cut off, committed suicide along with his son Shen Wenhe (沈文和). His other sons were killed by Zhang Jing'er. In 483, Xiao Daocheng's son Emperor Wu of Southern Qi, recognizing Shen Youzhi's accomplishments, permitted him to be reburied with proper honors.

生平

奮勇立勳

攸之年少喪父，亦貧寒。元嘉二十七年（450年），宋文帝北伐失利，遭北魏軍隊反擊並南侵，朝廷於是下令徵集三吳地區丁男充兵源作抵禦，攸之亦被徵召。攸之到了建康後曾向領軍將軍劉遵考請求當個白丁隊主，但遵考認為他形相醜陋，當不了隊主，只讓他跟著沈慶之作戰。元嘉二十九年（452年），沈攸之參與討伐西陽蠻，此時才能當上隊主。翌年（453年），攸之隨武陵王劉駿起兵討伐弒父登位的太子劉劭，獲授南中郎府板長史，兼行參軍。攸之隨軍進攻建康，並在新亭與劉劭軍隊作戰，身受重傷，但最終劉駿取得勝利，誅殺劉劭並登位，即宋孝武帝，遂以攸之為太尉行參軍，封平洛縣五等侯。後歷任大司馬行參軍及員外散騎侍郎。大明三年（459年），孝武帝命沈慶之討伐據廣陵反抗的竟陵王劉誕，攸之在戰事中屢建功勳，更被箭射破了骨頭，孝武帝為了嘉許他就賞了他一支仇池步矟。劉誕被消滅後，攸之本應獲得嘉賞，但被沈慶之故意阻撓，只是讓他改任太子旅賁中郎，攸之遂十分記恨慶之。大明七年（463年），攸之因母喪離職，下葬後即獲授龍驤將軍、武康令。

廢帝爪牙

宋前廢帝景和元年（465年），攸之獲除豫章王劉子尚的車騎中兵參軍，直閤，與宗越及譚金等直閤將軍都得前廢帝重用，前廢帝誅殺打算廢立的顧命大臣江夏王劉義恭、柳元景、顏師伯等人時攸之亦有出力；及至廢帝要賜死沈慶之時，更派一直記恨慶之的攸之乘夜親自帶著毒藥送過去。慶之當時拒絕服毒，攸之就用被褥把他悶死。前廢帝先封攸之為東興縣侯，食邑五百；後轉其為右軍將軍，增邑一百戶。同年年末，宋明帝因政變登位，攸之等廢帝爪牙都被削奪封爵。明帝雖然沒有加害，甚至更是厚待他們，但宗越等人很不心安，加上明帝不想他們留在禁中，想將他們置於外郡，遂令他們陰謀作亂。宗越等人將圖謀也告知攸之，但攸之卻將計劃報告明帝，明帝遂立即收捕處死宗越等人。相反，攸之獲明帝召入直閤，並授東海太守。

濃湖破敵

攸之尚未拜官，明帝即因當時全國大部分地方都支持尋陽的晉安王劉子勛為帝，改攸之為寧朔將軍、尋陽太守，領軍進軍虎檻，以抵抗將要來襲的敵軍。攸之到虎檻後發現當時前鋒共有五支軍隊屯留在虎檻，而當時為大統的王玄謨又未到，各軍和每晚到來集結的後援部隊都各自訂立軍號，並不統一。沈攸之覺得這樣不妥當，遂自向一軍求號，其他人亦跟隨他的做法。殷孝祖後獲授為前鋒都督，但他御下方式不得人心，反而攸之對內安撫將士，對外亦對各統領保持和洽，很得人們信賴。殷孝祖不久就在進攻赭圻一戰中中流矢陣亡，頓失主帥的眾軍此時都屬意由攸之接任前鋒都督一職。都督征討諸軍事的建安王劉休仁得悉孝祖去世，就派寧朔將軍江方興及龍驤將軍劉靈遺各率三千增援赭圻。攸之認為殷孝祖之死會令敵軍有乘勝進擊的傾向，若果此時不再作進攻即是示弱，但自認為與江方興職位一樣，對方肯定不願居於自己之下，如此只會失敗。他於是在方興到後帶領著諸軍軍主前去，以期明日戮力一戰，並主動推他為主。方興聞言十分高興，但離開後諸軍主都很不滿攸之的做法，攸之卻說：「你們忘了廉頗與藺相如、寇恂與賈復的事了嗎？我本意是想救助國家、保全家族，怎會計算彼此的地位高低。而且我能夠在他之下，他卻肯定不能在我之下，同渡艱難之時，怎可以自找矛盾。」最終明天大破敵軍，並追擊至姥山。不久，朝廷詔命進沈攸之為輔國將軍，假節代孝祖督前鋒諸軍事。

敵將薛常寶繼續守赭圻與諸軍相持，但糧食已盡，敵將劉胡遂將裝滿米糧的袋子綁緊在木筏和船腹，再弄成翻船狀作掩飾，讓它們順著江水流下，讓赭圻守軍補充糧食。攸之看見後覺得有古怪，於是命人截取這些木筏和船，奪取了這些糧食。時在赭圻的堂侄沈懷寶又圖策反攸之，特意派親人楊公讚帶著書信招誘他，攸之即斬楊公讚，並將書信封呈明帝。四月辛酉（466年5月4日），薛常寶糧盡唯有突圍，攸之遂領諸軍攻下赭圻。五月壬辰日（466年6月4日），攸之進使持節、督雍梁南北秦四州郢州之竟陵諸軍事、冠軍將軍、領寧蠻校尉、雍州刺史。

接著兩軍繼續在鵲尾濃湖相持，張興世及後獻計進佔鵲尾濃湖上游，阻礙敵方糧道，沈攸之等人支持計劃，而興世亦成功進佔錢溪，但遭到劉胡的猛烈進攻。為了支援興世，沈攸之率諸軍主動進攻敵方大軍，而敵方主帥袁顗則發放流言稱錢溪已經被攻下。眾人對此流言都感恐懼，但攸之則表示若果錢溪真的已失守，必定有人逃回來，如今只是對方失利，想以流言欺騙他們，更下令眾軍不得輕舉罔動。不久果然傳來錢溪的捷報，攸之更將所俘的劉胡軍士割下來的耳和鼻送到濃湖那裏，嚇得袁顗召還劉胡作增援，攸之則待黃昏後停止進攻並退還。八月，缺糧的濃湖大軍崩潰，攸之領眾進軍尋陽，遂徙監郢州諸軍事、前將軍、郢州刺史。攸之沒有拜官，遂調為中領軍，並以平定尋陽的功勳封貞陽縣公，食邑二千戶。

喪師淮北

尋陽陷落後，徐州刺史薛安都等支持劉子勛的力量都相繼向明帝歸降，但明帝卻獨獨派重兵迎安都降，命攸之以前將軍置佐吏，假節與鎮軍將軍張永領大軍赴彭城，安都知道後怕明帝容不下他，遂引北魏作援。沈攸之及張永逼近彭城，屯於下礚時，魏將尉元率領的軍隊亦到，並因安都迎降而佔據彭城。攸之留運糧船在呂梁，別遣王穆之於武原守輜重，自己則與張永試圖進攻彭城，但未能攻下。相反，尉元及後留安都等守彭城，親率軍隊進攻王穆之，糧船及輜重皆被魏軍所破，穆之亦只能率敗部退到大軍處。泰始三年（467年）正月，沈攸之與張永決定撤退，當時天寒大雪，泗水冰封，攸之等只能選擇徒步南歸，很多士兵凍死凍傷，更遭魏軍追擊，敗於呂梁以東，死傷慘重。攸之因此敗而被免官，僅以貞陽縣公身份領職，鎮守淮陰。攸之隨即請求明帝再度北征，但被拒絕，他於是乾脆入朝陳請，再被拒絕，無望之下只能回鎮。六月，攸之親自押糧增援下邳，並在城池四周挖護城河，並命垣護之將一些人口遷至淮陰。攸之一直留在下邳等待陳顯達所率的千人來鎮，期間北魏有流言傳來，稱安都打算歸降，請求援軍迎接，包括攸之副手吳喜在內的眾人皆相信並建議派一千人迎接，隨著前來報告這流言的人愈來愈多，吳喜就更確信這流言。不過，攸之召集起這些前來的人，向他們表示只要薛安都派一個子弟前來即會派大軍迎接，他們有歸心的話亦可跟著薛家子弟一同來；但若無心歸來，那就不必往返徒勞了。這些人被遣還後卻沒有再回來，安都亦終沒歸附。

入秋後，明帝下令沈攸之進攻彭城，但攸之此時就以清水及泗水乾涸有礙漕運為由反對，如是者與明帝往反諫爭達七次。明帝於是大怒，下詔稱春季時沒有答應攸之所求是因為怕士兵疲勞和軍心渙散，指斥攸之現在卻不肯北討，並聲言若攸之堅拒，將改派吳喜進攻。攸之讀後恐懼，只得奉旨出兵。面對宋軍進攻，尉元則命孔伯恭領一萬兵抵禦，並將年初凍傷造成肢體傷殘的宋軍戰俘送還，以瓦解宋軍士氣。攸之出發後不久，宋明帝又後悔並立即派人追還，但當攸之將近下邳時，孔伯恭在睢口擊敗了迎接的陳顯達，並進而追擊攸之軍。八月丁酉日（467年10月2日），攸之交戰失利並受了傷，只能退到陳顯達營壘處，大軍並在當晚潰散，攸之遂棄眾南返淮陰。此役後，下邳、宿豫及淮陽亦為魏所攻下。八月壬寅日（467年10月7日），明帝以攸之持節、假冠軍將軍、行南兗州刺史。

伺隙荊郢

泰始四年（468年），攸之入為左衞將軍，領太子中庶子。泰始五年六月癸酉日（469年6月29日），攸之獲授持節監郢州諸軍事、郢州刺史，出鎮夏口。攸之以苛刻殘暴的手法治州，有鞭打士大夫，也有當面辱罵忤逆其意的高級屬官；一旦有人逃亡，和他同籍的十多個軍人皆受牽連。不過攸之通曉吏事，自強不息，郢州士民都怕了他，沒有人敢欺瞞他。每聽到有虎蹤都會親自領人圍捕，每次都能抓到，甚至曾經一天抓到兩三隻，即使待到黃昏仍未能抓住也會守圍夜宿，待明早繼續。另外，他在郢州大肆徵集稅賦和役力，用以修整軍備。泰始六年（470年）獲加監豫州西西陽及司州之義陽二郡軍事，並進號鎮軍將軍。

泰豫元年（472年），宋明帝去世，遣詔讓沈攸之與蔡興宗、袁粲、劉勔及褚淵五人輔政。當時益州有內亂，原荊州刺史建平王劉景素受徵入朝，新除荊州刺史蔡興宗尚未出發，就以攸之權行荊州事。攸之到江陵後亂事已平，而當時主掌朝政的明帝寵臣王道隆怕蔡興宗的剛正不阿，根本不想他外鎮荊州重地，於是故意徵還他為中書監，改以沈攸之持節都督荊湘雍益梁寧南北秦八州諸軍事、鎮西將軍、荊州刺史。攸之到了荊州後作風仍舊，並漸似有不臣之跡，無復遵從朝廷制度。

江州刺史桂陽王劉休範怨恨作為帝叔而未得顧命，打算起兵奪權，並有意招引攸之，故特命道士陳公昭假作一封天公書，標題是「沈丞相」，並送到攸之府門。攸之得函還沒拆開就知是陳公昭在搗鬼，就將他押送到建康。元徽二年（474年），休範正式起兵並直撲建康，攸之對僚屬說這次劉休範必定把他也拉下水，若果他這次不發兵勤王，肯定會加深朝野對他的疑慮，於是立即響應諸鎮勤王，派了軍主孫同及沈懷奧領兵東下，並指令他們受郢州刺史晉熙王劉燮的節度。孫同等軍剛剛過了夏口休範就敗了，於是撤返，而攸之以此獲進征西大將軍、開府儀同三司，但攸之辭讓開府。但這沒有滅低朝廷對攸之的疑慮，一直都想徵召他入朝，只是怕攸之不受命而沒有做，遂以皇太后令方式探聽攸之對徵還的意向，但攸之自稱自己沒有作朝內任職的才能，反倒能在外鎮守疆上做點貢獻，更以退為進稱「豈敢厝心去留，歸還之事，伏聽朝旨」，朝廷聞言後更是恐懼，再沒討論徵還之事了。

元徽四年（476年），南豫州刺史、建平王劉景素於京口起兵，攸之當時正在進攻峽中蠻，聞訊後立即召還軍隊打算勤王，但當時巴東太守劉攘兵及建平太守劉道欣懷疑攸之是想作亂，反命人阻斷三峽，不讓軍隊退還。攸之於是派了時任荊州西曹的劉攘兵侄兒劉天賜告知真相，命其解甲，攘兵於是解甲歸罪，攸之亦沒作追究，繼續任用他。道欣則以建平郡不降，攘兵勸降不果後就率領討蠻兵消滅他。而景素起事旋即亦遭建康軍隊所平。昇明元年（477年），領軍將軍蕭道成廢殺宋後廢帝，改立了宋順帝，主簿宗儼之及功曹臧寅勸攸之趁機起兵，但攸之顧慮兒子沈元琰尚在建康，不敢行動《資治通鑑·卷134》：「會蒼梧王遇弒，主簿宗儼之、功曹臧寅勸攸之因此起兵。攸之以其長子元琰在建康為司徒左長史，故未發。」。順帝即位後又進攸之車騎大將軍、開府儀同三司，加班劍二十人。

釁亂自終

沈攸之自出鎮郢州起則有異志，及至當時已經有十萬之眾，二千多匹戰馬，糧倉滿積，大量戰艦以及錢帛武器；而蕭道成在行廢立後亦以司空錄尚書事身份掌政，權傾朝野，並有篡位之跡。其實二人昔日曾一同在殿省任職，早就有交情，甚至成了姻親，但到了此時沈攸之不甘名位向來在自己之下的道成掌握朝政，而道成又派了沈元琰到荊州，將後廢帝用來斬殺人們的器具送給他，攸之見兒子回來就再無顧忌，遂籌謀起事《資治通鑑·卷134》：「蕭道成遣元琰以蒼梧王刳斫之具示攸之。攸之以道成名位素出己下，一旦專制朝權，心不平，謂元琰曰：「吾寧為王陵死，不為賈充生。」然亦未暇舉兵。乃上表稱慶，因留元琰。」。昇明元年十二月丁巳日（477年12月28日），沈攸之正式起兵，宣稱皇太后賜他蠟燭，其中藏有太后手令稱「社稷之事，一以委公」，討伐專權的蕭道成。辛酉日（478年1月1日），攸之派孫同等眾人分批東下，自己亦領眾繼進，並於閏十二月癸巳日（478年2月2日）兵臨郢州州治夏口，佔據魯山。當時夏口由柳世隆防守，攸之自恃兵強而怠驕傲，而其城弱小，不想進攻，遂欲勸降，然遭柳世隆拒絕。宗儼之勸攸之攻城，但臧寅則勸攸之直取建康，覆其根本。攸之本來聽從臧寅所議，留偏軍攻夏口而自率主力攻建康，惟世隆故意派人辱罵攸之，激得攸之下令猛攻世隆，但在世隆防禦之下無法攻下。攸之屢攻不下，加上向來都不得人心，弄得部眾離心，每日逃亡的人愈來愈多，即使攸之每天都巡營撫慰將士仍然無法遏止。昇明二年正月丁卯日（478年3月8日）夜晚，劉攘兵叛投世隆後，觸發攸之軍全面潰散，再無法控制。翌日快天亮時，攸之殺劉天賜及攘兵女婿張平虜，率眾渡江，到魯山時眾將都逃跑了，身邊僅餘數十騎，但攸之仍然寄望能返回江陵，而一些散兵怕遭蠻人抄掠，也集結起來，計有二萬人隨攸之回江陵《南齊書·柳世隆傳》：「攸之素失人情，本逼以威力，初發江陵，已有叛者，至是稍多。攸之日夕乘馬歷營撫慰，而去者不息。攸之大怒，召啫軍主曰：『我被太后令，建義下都，大事若剋，白紗帽共著耳；如其不振，朝廷自誅我百口，不關餘人。比軍人叛散，皆卿等不以為意。我亦不能問叛身，自今軍中有叛者，軍主任其罪。』於是一人叛，遣十人追，並去不反。莫敢發覺，咸有異計。劉攘兵射書與世隆許降，世隆開門納之。攘兵燒營而去，火起乃覺。攸之怒，銜鬚咀之。收攘兵兄子天賜、女婿張平虜斬之。軍旅大散。攸之渡魯山岸，猶有數十匹騎自隨。宣令軍中曰：『荊州城中大有錢，可相與還取，以為資糧。』郢城未有追軍，而散軍畏蠻抄，更相聚結，可二萬人，隨攸之，將至江陵，乃散。」。可是，當日攸之出發時留元琰守江陵，不久即為支持蕭道成的雍州刺史張敬兒攻陷，元琰出走被殺；攸之將至江陵時得知江陵已失，自己再無據點，那些糾集的兵眾於是盡散，攸之帶著兒子沈文和逃到華容縣界，父子二人自縊於櫟林中，被當地封人斬首送呈張敬兒，敬兒則將他的首級用木條舉起，以青絲線覆蓋後放在市中展示，後送建康。其餘攸之親黨都被敬兒誅殺，財產亦為敬兒所私吞《資治通鑑·卷134》：「攸之無所歸，與其子文和走至華容界，皆縊於櫟林；己巳，村民斬首送江陵。敬兒擎之以楯，覆以青絲，徇諸市郭，乃送建康。敬兒誅攸之親黨，收其財物數十萬，皆以入私。」。

性格特徵

• 沈攸之晚年愛讀書，更是手不釋卷，尤熟讀《史記》、《漢書》，更言：「早知窮達有命，恨不十年讀書。」

• 沈攸之生性儉嗇，子弟都不能夠亂用財物，獨獨對弟弟沈雍之例外。

• 隨郡有一個叫雙泰真的人，有勇力及武事才幹，但攸之召請卻一直不肯來，攸之於是在得到泰真於江陵買賣物品的情報後出手將他留下來，補為隊副，亦厚待他。可是泰真根本不想留下，不久就逃走了，攸之就派了二十個士兵追還他，泰真在追捕期間殺了幾個士兵，其他人亦不敢進逼，但泰真礙於士兵追趕而無法去接母親，只好自己隻身逃到蠻中。士兵失去了泰真的蹤跡，只有帶其母回去。泰真知道母親被帶走後只好出降，攸之並不加罪，反稱其為孝子，更賜他一萬錢，進補為隊主。

逸事

• 沈攸之還未發跡時曾與孫超之及全景文一同乘船出遊，並登上堤岸遊樂。突然有一個人截住了他們並和他們看相，稱他們三人都將為方伯，攸之質疑怎可能三人都有這個相，但對方表示他只是依相書所指去評論。但竟然真的應驗，攸之官至荊州刺史，超之及景文分別為廣州及南豫州。

• 據說攸之知後廢帝遇弒後就想起兵，但知曉星相的葛珂之卻說：「自古以來起兵事都要看太白星，太白出現就會成功，沒有出現就會失敗。近代應驗的例子就是桂陽王在太白星沒出現時起兵，於是一戰就死了；現在蕭公廢昏立明，亦是太白沒有出現，和天象相合。而且太白不久會在東方出現，那東方用兵就有利，西方則不利。」攸之於是沒有動手。但不久攸之還是起兵，珂之以「歲星守南斗」認為不可進攻，但攸之不聽，終敗死。

家庭

兄弟

• 沈登之，攸之弟，新安太守，攸之起兵時正離職在家，遭吳興太守沈文季殺害。

• 沈雍之，攸之異母弟，鄱陽太守，其子沈僧照在齊獲立為義興憲公主之後

• 沈榮之，攸之弟，尚書庫部郎。

子

• 沈元琰，長子，司徒左長史。攸之起兵時留其守江陵，為張敬兒所襲，出逃被殺。

• 沈懿，次子，太子洗馬，早死。

• 沈文和，三子，中書侍郎，娶蕭道成女義興憲公主，與攸之一同自殺

• 沈幼和，五子，被張敬兒殺害

• 沈靈和，被張敬兒殺害