永(yong)寧(ning)(ning)州(zhou)古(gu)城(cheng)始建于明成化十三(san)年(nian)(nian)(1477),至今(jin)已經歷(li)537年(nian)(nian)的風風雨雨。永(yong)寧(ning)(ning)州(zhou)古(gu)城(cheng)原為古(gu)田縣治,明隆慶(qing)五(wu)年(nian)(nian)(1571)升為直隸(li)州(zhou),稱“永(yong)寧(ning)(ning)”,永(yong)寧(ning)(ning)州(zhou)古(gu)城(cheng)由此而得(de)名。
永(yong)寧州(zhou)古(gu)(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)位于廣西(xi)桂林(lin)市永(yong)福(fu)縣百壽鎮北(bei)端,與百壽巖隔河相望。永(yong)寧州(zhou)古(gu)(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)始建于明成化(hua)十(shi)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1477),至今已(yi)經歷(li)537年(nian)(nian)(nian)的風風雨雨。古(gu)(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)最(zui)先為土城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻周長(chang)約1000米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),高5米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),厚(hou)2米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)多。成化(hua)十(shi)八年(nian)(nian)(nian),改砌為石(shi)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng);隆(long)慶六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1572),古(gu)(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)往(wang)(wang)西(xi)被擴(kuo)寬80余米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),建城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men)四座,東門(men)叫“東興(xing)門(men)”,南門(men)稱“鎮寧門(men)”,西(xi)門(men)喊“安定門(men)”,北(bei)門(men)為“迎恩(en)門(men)”。至萬歷(li)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻增高到(dao)1.3米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),加(jia)(jia)厚(hou)到(dao)0.6米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi);萬歷(li)八年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1580),古(gu)(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)往(wang)(wang)北(bei)又擴(kuo)展100米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)周長(chang)擴(kuo)建為1277米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),高6.33米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),厚(hou)3.2米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)頭垛637個(ge),窩鋪(pu)12個(ge),兵(bing)馬司4處,并(bing)在四座城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men)之上建起門(men)樓(lou)。萬歷(li)十(shi)四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1586),在古(gu)(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)東面(mian)筑護城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河堤430余米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻再次加(jia)(jia)厚(hou),并(bing)加(jia)(jia)女墻窩鋪(pu)。
據文物專家考察,永寧州古城,在五百(bai)多(duo)(duo)年(nian)的歷(li)史(shi)長河(he)中(zhong),在軍事(shi)上曾起過極重要的作用,是(shi)兵(bing)家必(bi)爭之地。每次改朝換代(dai),永寧州古城必(bi)遇兵(bing)災戰火。但它能歷(li)經五百(bai)多(duo)(duo)年(nian)風風雨雨還(huan)能比較完整(zheng)地保(bao)存下來,不(bu)能不(bu)說是(shi)一個奇跡。
永(yong)寧(ning)州古城地(di)處桂(gui)林至融安的險要(yao)地(di)段,僅有一條古道從這里(li)(li)的大(da)峽(xia)谷中通過(guo)。古城就建(jian)在(zai)(zai)古道的必經之(zhi)處,兩面有天然(ran)河流為護城河,四周數十公里(li)(li)都(dou)是高山大(da)嶺(ling)。其北面6公里(li)(li)處有綿(mian)亙(gen)十余公里(li)(li)的險要(yao)關(guan)隘(ai)——三臺嶺(ling)(舊(jiu)稱三厄嶺(ling))。永(yong)寧(ning)州古城就處在(zai)(zai)三臺嶺(ling)險隘(ai)下的古道上,它就像一個(ge)關(guan)隘(ai),進可攻,退可守(shou),大(da)有一夫當關(guan),萬夫莫開之(zhi)勢(shi)。
據(ju)《永福縣志》記載,明弘治五(wu)年(nian)(1492)后(hou),由韋朝威、覃(tan)萬賢、韋銀豹(bao)所率(lv)領的壯族農(nong)民起義(yi)(yi)隊伍(wu),曾(ceng)攻占永寧州古城80余年(nian),使(shi)這座大山之中(zhong)的古城,一度成為廣西(xi)農(nong)民起義(yi)(yi)的中(zhong)心。
清康熙十一年(公元(yuan)1672年),南北城(cheng)樓(lou)曾被(bei)大火燒毀(hui),城(cheng)墻多處崩(beng)塌,后(hou)修復。清光緒(xu)三十八年(1902),附近爆發(fa)了覃(tan)老發(fa)抗(kang)清斗爭,抗(kang)清隊(dui)伍向永寧州進發(fa),州城(cheng)岌岌可危。清朝急派(pai)大部(bu)隊(dui)增援,方保住古城(cheng)。
民(min)國(guo)十二年,當地土匪韋侯(hou)凡被(bei)桂林自治軍收編后,進駐永(yong)寧州古城自稱縣長,向(xiang)百(bai)姓納稅派糧,引起民(min)眾暴動(dong)。當地群(qun)眾上(shang)千人(ren)拿著大刀、長矛(mao)、火銃等,猛烈攻打(da)古城多天。但由于(yu)石(shi)城堅(jian)固,難以攻下。暴動(dong)的群(qun)眾圍困古城七(qi)天七(qi)夜后,韋九勾(gou)被(bei)迫向(xiang)暴動(dong)的群(qun)眾投(tou)降(jiang)。
民(min)(min)國二(er)十四(si)年,中(渡)、融(安(an))、百(壽)三(san)縣人民(min)(min)反對廣西(xi)實行的“三(san)自三(san)寓”政策和“國民(min)(min)軍訓”,融(安(an))縣一青年逃避(bi)征練(lian),被政府槍決,激起七、八(ba)千人民(min)(min)眾(zhong)爆(bao)動(dong)。當(dang)年8月(yue)26日,有(you)兩千余群(qun)眾(zhong)攻(gong)打永寧古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)。但由于武器低劣,群(qun)眾(zhong)對堅固而高峻的石城(cheng)(cheng)一時無法(fa)攻(gong)破。國民(min)(min)黨援(yuan)城(cheng)(cheng)部隊趕到(dao)后(hou),攻(gong)城(cheng)(cheng)群(qun)眾(zhong)被迫(po)迅速(su)分散逃離。
民國(guo)三(san)十三(san)年,日本侵略(lve)軍進犯百壽,曾兩次(ci)攻陷永寧古城,并(bing)盤據古城8個月之久(jiu)。在這期間(jian),抗日自衛隊與日軍間(jian)交戰160余次(ci)。
民(min)(min)國(guo)(guo)(guo)三十八年,全(quan)國(guo)(guo)(guo)臨近(jin)解放(fang)(fang)(fang),國(guo)(guo)(guo)民(min)(min)黨“廣西反共救國(guo)(guo)(guo)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)”第(di)十三軍(jun)(jun)(jun)下轄2個師(shi),第(di)七(qi)(qi)(qi)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)一七(qi)(qi)(qi)二師(shi)共5000多人(ren)(ren)退(tui)入百壽,妄圖盤據古(gu)城進行(xing)頑(wan)抗(kang)。中國(guo)(guo)(guo)人(ren)(ren)民(min)(min)解放(fang)(fang)(fang)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)四(si)十九軍(jun)(jun)(jun)一四(si)六師(shi)和(he)一四(si)七(qi)(qi)(qi)師(shi)將百壽包圍,為(wei)了保護(hu)人(ren)(ren)民(min)(min)的生命財產,人(ren)(ren)民(min)(min)解放(fang)(fang)(fang)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)勸敵(di)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)長周祖晃投降(jiang)。萬余(yu)敵(di)人(ren)(ren)在走投無路(lu)的情況下,紛紛放(fang)(fang)(fang)下武(wu)器投降(jiang)。古(gu)城免(mian)遭炮火(huo)轟擊,從而完(wan)整的保存下來。