永寧(ning)州古城始建于明(ming)成化十三年(1477),至今已經歷537年的風風雨雨。永寧(ning)州古城原為(wei)古田縣治,明(ming)隆慶五年(1571)升為(wei)直隸(li)州,稱“永寧(ning)”,永寧(ning)州古城由此而(er)得名。
永(yong)(yong)寧(ning)州古城(cheng)(cheng)位于廣西桂林(lin)市(shi)永(yong)(yong)福縣百壽(shou)鎮(zhen)北(bei)端(duan),與百壽(shou)巖隔河相望。永(yong)(yong)寧(ning)州古城(cheng)(cheng)始建(jian)(jian)于明成(cheng)化(hua)(hua)十(shi)(shi)三年(nian)(nian)(1477),至今(jin)已經(jing)歷(li)(li)537年(nian)(nian)的風風雨雨。古城(cheng)(cheng)最先為(wei)土(tu)城(cheng)(cheng),城(cheng)(cheng)墻周(zhou)長約1000米(mi)(mi)(mi),高5米(mi)(mi)(mi),厚(hou)2米(mi)(mi)(mi)多。成(cheng)化(hua)(hua)十(shi)(shi)八年(nian)(nian),改砌為(wei)石(shi)城(cheng)(cheng);隆慶六年(nian)(nian)(1572),古城(cheng)(cheng)往西被(bei)擴寬(kuan)80余米(mi)(mi)(mi),建(jian)(jian)城(cheng)(cheng)門(men)(men)四座,東(dong)門(men)(men)叫“東(dong)興門(men)(men)”,南門(men)(men)稱“鎮(zhen)寧(ning)門(men)(men)”,西門(men)(men)喊“安定門(men)(men)”,北(bei)門(men)(men)為(wei)“迎(ying)恩門(men)(men)”。至萬(wan)歷(li)(li)三年(nian)(nian),城(cheng)(cheng)墻增(zeng)高到1.3米(mi)(mi)(mi),加厚(hou)到0.6米(mi)(mi)(mi);萬(wan)歷(li)(li)八年(nian)(nian)(1580),古城(cheng)(cheng)往北(bei)又擴展100米(mi)(mi)(mi),城(cheng)(cheng)周(zhou)長擴建(jian)(jian)為(wei)1277米(mi)(mi)(mi),高6.33米(mi)(mi)(mi),厚(hou)3.2米(mi)(mi)(mi),城(cheng)(cheng)頭垛637個,窩(wo)(wo)鋪12個,兵馬(ma)司4處(chu),并(bing)在(zai)四座城(cheng)(cheng)門(men)(men)之上(shang)建(jian)(jian)起門(men)(men)樓(lou)。萬(wan)歷(li)(li)十(shi)(shi)四年(nian)(nian)(1586),在(zai)古城(cheng)(cheng)東(dong)面筑(zhu)護城(cheng)(cheng)河堤430余米(mi)(mi)(mi),城(cheng)(cheng)墻再次加厚(hou),并(bing)加女墻窩(wo)(wo)鋪。
據文(wen)物專家考察,永(yong)寧(ning)州(zhou)古(gu)城,在(zai)五百(bai)(bai)多(duo)(duo)年的歷史長河中,在(zai)軍事上曾起過極重要的作用,是(shi)(shi)兵家必爭(zheng)之地。每次改朝換(huan)代(dai),永(yong)寧(ning)州(zhou)古(gu)城必遇兵災戰火。但(dan)它能歷經五百(bai)(bai)多(duo)(duo)年風風雨雨還能比較完整地保存下來(lai),不能不說是(shi)(shi)一個奇跡。
永(yong)寧(ning)州(zhou)古城(cheng)(cheng)地(di)處(chu)(chu)桂林至融安的(de)(de)險(xian)(xian)要地(di)段,僅(jin)有(you)(you)(you)一條古道從這里(li)的(de)(de)大(da)峽(xia)谷(gu)中通過。古城(cheng)(cheng)就建在古道的(de)(de)必經(jing)之處(chu)(chu),兩面有(you)(you)(you)天然河流(liu)為護城(cheng)(cheng)河,四周數十公(gong)里(li)都是高(gao)山(shan)大(da)嶺(ling)(ling)。其北面6公(gong)里(li)處(chu)(chu)有(you)(you)(you)綿(mian)亙十余(yu)公(gong)里(li)的(de)(de)險(xian)(xian)要關隘——三臺(tai)嶺(ling)(ling)(舊稱(cheng)三厄嶺(ling)(ling))。永(yong)寧(ning)州(zhou)古城(cheng)(cheng)就處(chu)(chu)在三臺(tai)嶺(ling)(ling)險(xian)(xian)隘下的(de)(de)古道上,它就像一個關隘,進(jin)可攻,退可守,大(da)有(you)(you)(you)一夫當關,萬夫莫(mo)開之勢。
據《永福縣(xian)志》記載,明弘治五年(nian)(1492)后,由韋朝威(wei)、覃萬賢、韋銀豹所率領的(de)(de)壯族農(nong)民起義隊伍,曾(ceng)攻占(zhan)永寧州古城80余年(nian),使這座大山之中(zhong)的(de)(de)古城,一度成為廣西農(nong)民起義的(de)(de)中(zhong)心。
清(qing)康熙十一年(nian)(公元1672年(nian)),南北城樓曾被大火燒(shao)毀,城墻多處崩塌,后修復。清(qing)光緒三(san)十八年(nian)(1902),附近爆發了覃老發抗清(qing)斗爭,抗清(qing)隊(dui)(dui)伍向永寧州進發,州城岌(ji)岌(ji)可危(wei)。清(qing)朝急派大部(bu)隊(dui)(dui)增援,方保住古城。
民國十(shi)二年,當地(di)(di)土匪韋侯凡被桂林自治軍(jun)收編后,進(jin)駐永寧州古城自稱縣長,向百姓納稅(shui)派糧,引起民眾(zhong)(zhong)暴動(dong)(dong)。當地(di)(di)群眾(zhong)(zhong)上千人拿著(zhu)大刀、長矛、火銃等,猛烈攻(gong)打古城多天。但由(you)于(yu)石城堅固,難以(yi)攻(gong)下。暴動(dong)(dong)的群眾(zhong)(zhong)圍困(kun)古城七(qi)天七(qi)夜(ye)后,韋九勾被迫向暴動(dong)(dong)的群眾(zhong)(zhong)投降(jiang)。
民(min)(min)國(guo)二十四年(nian),中(zhong)(渡(du))、融(安(an))、百(壽)三縣人民(min)(min)反對(dui)廣(guang)西實行的“三自(zi)三寓”政策和“國(guo)民(min)(min)軍訓”,融(安(an))縣一青年(nian)逃(tao)避(bi)征練(lian),被政府(fu)槍決,激起七、八千人民(min)(min)眾(zhong)(zhong)爆動。當(dang)年(nian)8月26日,有兩千余(yu)群眾(zhong)(zhong)攻打永寧古城。但(dan)由于武器低劣(lie),群眾(zhong)(zhong)對(dui)堅固而高峻的石(shi)城一時(shi)無法攻破(po)。國(guo)民(min)(min)黨援城部隊趕到(dao)后,攻城群眾(zhong)(zhong)被迫迅(xun)速分(fen)散逃(tao)離。
民國三十三年,日(ri)本侵略軍(jun)進犯百壽,曾兩(liang)次攻陷永寧古(gu)城(cheng),并盤據(ju)古(gu)城(cheng)8個(ge)月之久。在這期間,抗(kang)日(ri)自衛隊與日(ri)軍(jun)間交戰160余次。
民國(guo)三十(shi)(shi)八年,全國(guo)臨近解(jie)(jie)放(fang),國(guo)民黨“廣西反共救國(guo)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)”第十(shi)(shi)三軍(jun)(jun)(jun)下轄2個師(shi),第七軍(jun)(jun)(jun)一(yi)七二師(shi)共5000多人(ren)退入百壽,妄(wang)圖盤據古城進(jin)行頑(wan)抗。中國(guo)人(ren)民解(jie)(jie)放(fang)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)四(si)(si)十(shi)(shi)九(jiu)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)一(yi)四(si)(si)六師(shi)和一(yi)四(si)(si)七師(shi)將百壽包圍(wei),為(wei)了保(bao)(bao)護人(ren)民的(de)生命(ming)財(cai)產(chan),人(ren)民解(jie)(jie)放(fang)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)勸敵(di)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)長周(zhou)祖晃投(tou)(tou)降。萬(wan)余(yu)敵(di)人(ren)在走(zou)投(tou)(tou)無路的(de)情況下,紛(fen)紛(fen)放(fang)下武器投(tou)(tou)降。古城免(mian)遭炮火轟(hong)擊,從(cong)而完整的(de)保(bao)(bao)存(cun)下來。