永(yong)(yong)寧(ning)州古城始建(jian)于明(ming)成(cheng)化十三年(nian)(1477),至(zhi)今已(yi)經歷537年(nian)的風(feng)(feng)風(feng)(feng)雨雨。永(yong)(yong)寧(ning)州古城原為(wei)古田縣(xian)治,明(ming)隆(long)慶(qing)五(wu)年(nian)(1571)升為(wei)直隸州,稱(cheng)“永(yong)(yong)寧(ning)”,永(yong)(yong)寧(ning)州古城由(you)此而(er)得名(ming)。
永寧州古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)位于(yu)廣(guang)西桂林市(shi)永福縣百壽鎮北端,與百壽巖(yan)隔河相望。永寧州古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)始建于(yu)明成化十三年(nian)(1477),至(zhi)今(jin)已經歷(li)(li)537年(nian)的風(feng)風(feng)雨(yu)雨(yu)。古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)最先(xian)為(wei)土城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)周(zhou)長約1000米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),高(gao)5米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),厚2米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)多。成化十八(ba)(ba)年(nian),改(gai)砌為(wei)石城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng);隆(long)慶六年(nian)(1572),古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)往(wang)(wang)西被擴(kuo)寬(kuan)80余(yu)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),建城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men)(men)四(si)座,東(dong)(dong)門(men)(men)叫“東(dong)(dong)興(xing)門(men)(men)”,南門(men)(men)稱“鎮寧門(men)(men)”,西門(men)(men)喊“安定門(men)(men)”,北門(men)(men)為(wei)“迎恩門(men)(men)”。至(zhi)萬(wan)歷(li)(li)三年(nian),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)增(zeng)高(gao)到1.3米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),加(jia)厚到0.6米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi);萬(wan)歷(li)(li)八(ba)(ba)年(nian)(1580),古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)往(wang)(wang)北又擴(kuo)展100米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)周(zhou)長擴(kuo)建為(wei)1277米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),高(gao)6.33米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),厚3.2米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)頭垛637個,窩(wo)鋪12個,兵馬司4處,并(bing)在四(si)座城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men)(men)之(zhi)上建起門(men)(men)樓。萬(wan)歷(li)(li)十四(si)年(nian)(1586),在古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)東(dong)(dong)面筑護城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河堤430余(yu)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)再次加(jia)厚,并(bing)加(jia)女墻(qiang)窩(wo)鋪。
據文物專家考察,永(yong)寧(ning)州(zhou)(zhou)古城,在五百多(duo)年(nian)的歷(li)史(shi)長河中,在軍事上(shang)曾起過極(ji)重要(yao)的作用,是兵家必爭之(zhi)地。每次(ci)改朝換代,永(yong)寧(ning)州(zhou)(zhou)古城必遇兵災戰火。但(dan)它能(neng)歷(li)經五百多(duo)年(nian)風風雨雨還能(neng)比較完整地保存下來,不(bu)能(neng)不(bu)說(shuo)是一個奇跡。
永寧州古(gu)城地處桂林至融安(an)的險要地段(duan),僅有(you)一條(tiao)古(gu)道從這(zhe)里(li)的大(da)峽谷中通過。古(gu)城就建(jian)在(zai)古(gu)道的必經(jing)之處,兩面有(you)天然河(he)流為護城河(he),四周數十公里(li)都是高山(shan)大(da)嶺(ling)。其北面6公里(li)處有(you)綿亙十余公里(li)的險要關隘——三(san)臺嶺(ling)(舊稱三(san)厄嶺(ling))。永寧州古(gu)城就處在(zai)三(san)臺嶺(ling)險隘下(xia)的古(gu)道上,它就像一個關隘,進可攻,退可守,大(da)有(you)一夫(fu)當(dang)關,萬(wan)夫(fu)莫(mo)開(kai)之勢(shi)。
據《永(yong)福(fu)縣志》記載,明弘(hong)治五年(nian)(1492)后,由韋(wei)朝(chao)威、覃萬賢、韋(wei)銀豹(bao)所率領的壯族(zu)農民起義(yi)隊伍(wu),曾攻占永(yong)寧(ning)州古城80余年(nian),使這(zhe)座(zuo)大山之中的古城,一度成為廣(guang)西農民起義(yi)的中心(xin)。
清康熙十一(yi)年(公元1672年),南北城樓曾被大(da)火燒毀,城墻多處崩塌,后修復(fu)。清光緒(xu)三十八年(1902),附近爆發了覃(tan)老(lao)發抗清斗爭,抗清隊伍向永寧州進發,州城岌(ji)岌(ji)可危(wei)。清朝(chao)急派(pai)大(da)部隊增援,方保住古城。
民(min)國十(shi)二年,當(dang)地土匪韋(wei)(wei)侯(hou)凡被(bei)桂林自治(zhi)軍收編后,進駐永寧州古城(cheng)自稱縣長,向(xiang)百姓(xing)納稅派糧,引起民(min)眾暴(bao)動(dong)。當(dang)地群(qun)(qun)眾上千人拿著大刀、長矛、火銃等,猛烈攻打古城(cheng)多天。但由于石城(cheng)堅固(gu),難以攻下。暴(bao)動(dong)的群(qun)(qun)眾圍困(kun)古城(cheng)七天七夜后,韋(wei)(wei)九勾被(bei)迫向(xiang)暴(bao)動(dong)的群(qun)(qun)眾投降。
民(min)國(guo)(guo)二十四年(nian),中(渡)、融(安)、百(壽(shou))三縣人民(min)反對廣西實(shi)行的“三自三寓”政(zheng)(zheng)策和“國(guo)(guo)民(min)軍(jun)訓”,融(安)縣一青(qing)年(nian)逃避征練,被政(zheng)(zheng)府槍決,激(ji)起(qi)七、八千人民(min)眾(zhong)(zhong)爆動(dong)。當年(nian)8月26日,有兩(liang)千余群(qun)眾(zhong)(zhong)攻(gong)打永寧(ning)古(gu)城。但由(you)于武器低劣(lie),群(qun)眾(zhong)(zhong)對堅固而高峻的石城一時無法攻(gong)破。國(guo)(guo)民(min)黨援城部隊趕到(dao)后(hou),攻(gong)城群(qun)眾(zhong)(zhong)被迫迅速分散(san)逃離(li)。
民(min)國三(san)十(shi)三(san)年,日本侵略軍(jun)進犯百壽(shou),曾兩次攻陷永寧古城,并盤(pan)據古城8個月之久。在這期間,抗日自衛隊(dui)與日軍(jun)間交戰160余次。
民國(guo)三十八年,全國(guo)臨近解(jie)放(fang),國(guo)民黨“廣(guang)西反共救國(guo)軍(jun)”第(di)十三軍(jun)下(xia)(xia)轄2個師,第(di)七(qi)軍(jun)一七(qi)二師共5000多人(ren)退入百(bai)壽,妄圖盤據古城(cheng)進(jin)行(xing)頑抗。中國(guo)人(ren)民解(jie)放(fang)軍(jun)四(si)十九軍(jun)一四(si)六師和(he)一四(si)七(qi)師將百(bai)壽包圍,為了保(bao)護(hu)人(ren)民的生命財(cai)產,人(ren)民解(jie)放(fang)軍(jun)勸敵軍(jun)長(chang)周祖晃投(tou)降。萬(wan)余敵人(ren)在走投(tou)無路(lu)的情況下(xia)(xia),紛紛放(fang)下(xia)(xia)武器投(tou)降。古城(cheng)免遭炮火轟擊,從(cong)而(er)完(wan)整(zheng)的保(bao)存下(xia)(xia)來。