永(yong)寧(ning)州(zhou)古(gu)(gu)(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)始(shi)建于(yu)明成化十(shi)三年(nian)(nian)(1477),至今已(yi)經歷537年(nian)(nian)的風風雨雨。永(yong)寧(ning)州(zhou)古(gu)(gu)(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)原為古(gu)(gu)(gu)田(tian)縣治,明隆慶五年(nian)(nian)(1571)升為直(zhi)隸州(zhou),稱“永(yong)寧(ning)”,永(yong)寧(ning)州(zhou)古(gu)(gu)(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)由此而得名。
永(yong)寧(ning)州古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)位于(yu)廣(guang)西(xi)(xi)桂林市永(yong)福縣(xian)百(bai)壽鎮(zhen)北端,與百(bai)壽巖隔河(he)(he)相望。永(yong)寧(ning)州古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)始(shi)建(jian)于(yu)明成化十三(san)年(nian)(1477),至今已(yi)經歷(li)(li)537年(nian)的(de)風(feng)(feng)風(feng)(feng)雨雨。古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)最(zui)先(xian)為土(tu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻周長約1000米(mi)(mi),高5米(mi)(mi),厚(hou)2米(mi)(mi)多。成化十八年(nian),改砌為石城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng);隆慶六(liu)年(nian)(1572),古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)往(wang)西(xi)(xi)被擴(kuo)寬80余(yu)米(mi)(mi),建(jian)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門四座,東門叫“東興門”,南(nan)門稱“鎮(zhen)寧(ning)門”,西(xi)(xi)門喊“安定門”,北門為“迎恩門”。至萬歷(li)(li)三(san)年(nian),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻增高到(dao)1.3米(mi)(mi),加(jia)厚(hou)到(dao)0.6米(mi)(mi);萬歷(li)(li)八年(nian)(1580),古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)往(wang)北又擴(kuo)展100米(mi)(mi),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)周長擴(kuo)建(jian)為1277米(mi)(mi),高6.33米(mi)(mi),厚(hou)3.2米(mi)(mi),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)頭垛637個,窩(wo)鋪(pu)12個,兵馬司4處,并(bing)在四座城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門之上(shang)建(jian)起門樓。萬歷(li)(li)十四年(nian)(1586),在古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)東面筑護(hu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河(he)(he)堤430余(yu)米(mi)(mi),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻再(zai)次(ci)加(jia)厚(hou),并(bing)加(jia)女墻窩(wo)鋪(pu)。
據文物專家考察,永寧州古城(cheng),在(zai)五百多(duo)年的歷(li)史長河中,在(zai)軍事上曾起過極重要的作(zuo)用(yong),是兵家必爭之地。每次改(gai)朝(chao)換代,永寧州古城(cheng)必遇兵災戰(zhan)火。但(dan)它能(neng)歷(li)經五百多(duo)年風(feng)風(feng)雨雨還能(neng)比(bi)較完(wan)整(zheng)地保存下來(lai),不(bu)能(neng)不(bu)說是一(yi)個(ge)奇跡。
永寧(ning)州(zhou)古(gu)(gu)城地處桂林至融安(an)的(de)險(xian)要地段,僅有(you)一(yi)(yi)條古(gu)(gu)道從這(zhe)里(li)(li)的(de)大(da)峽(xia)谷中通過。古(gu)(gu)城就建在(zai)古(gu)(gu)道的(de)必(bi)經之處,兩(liang)面有(you)天然河流(liu)為護城河,四周數十(shi)公(gong)里(li)(li)都(dou)是(shi)高山大(da)嶺。其(qi)北面6公(gong)里(li)(li)處有(you)綿亙十(shi)余公(gong)里(li)(li)的(de)險(xian)要關(guan)隘——三臺嶺(舊稱三厄(e)嶺)。永寧(ning)州(zhou)古(gu)(gu)城就處在(zai)三臺嶺險(xian)隘下的(de)古(gu)(gu)道上,它就像一(yi)(yi)個關(guan)隘,進可攻(gong),退(tui)可守,大(da)有(you)一(yi)(yi)夫當關(guan),萬夫莫(mo)開之勢。
據《永福(fu)縣(xian)志(zhi)》記載(zai),明弘(hong)治(zhi)五年(nian)(1492)后,由(you)韋(wei)朝威、覃萬賢、韋(wei)銀豹所率領的壯族(zu)農民起(qi)義(yi)隊(dui)伍,曾攻占永寧州古城80余年(nian),使這座大(da)山之中(zhong)(zhong)的古城,一度(du)成為廣西農民起(qi)義(yi)的中(zhong)(zhong)心。
清(qing)康熙十(shi)一年(nian)(公元1672年(nian)),南北城樓曾(ceng)被大(da)火燒毀,城墻多(duo)處崩塌,后修(xiu)復。清(qing)光緒三十(shi)八年(nian)(1902),附近爆(bao)發了覃(tan)老發抗清(qing)斗爭,抗清(qing)隊(dui)伍(wu)向永寧州進(jin)發,州城岌岌可(ke)危。清(qing)朝急派大(da)部隊(dui)增援,方保(bao)住古城。
民國十二年,當(dang)(dang)地(di)土匪韋(wei)(wei)侯凡被桂林自治軍收(shou)編(bian)后(hou),進駐永寧州古城(cheng)(cheng)自稱(cheng)縣長,向百姓(xing)納稅派糧(liang),引起(qi)民眾(zhong)(zhong)暴動(dong)。當(dang)(dang)地(di)群眾(zhong)(zhong)上千(qian)人拿著大刀、長矛、火銃等,猛烈攻打古城(cheng)(cheng)多(duo)天。但(dan)由(you)于石城(cheng)(cheng)堅(jian)固(gu),難以攻下。暴動(dong)的群眾(zhong)(zhong)圍(wei)困(kun)古城(cheng)(cheng)七(qi)天七(qi)夜后(hou),韋(wei)(wei)九(jiu)勾被迫(po)向暴動(dong)的群眾(zhong)(zhong)投(tou)降。
民(min)國(guo)二(er)十四年(nian),中(zhong)(渡(du))、融(安)、百(壽)三(san)縣人民(min)反(fan)對廣(guang)西(xi)實行(xing)的“三(san)自三(san)寓”政策和“國(guo)民(min)軍(jun)訓”,融(安)縣一青年(nian)逃避征練,被政府槍(qiang)決,激起(qi)七(qi)、八千(qian)人民(min)眾爆(bao)動。當年(nian)8月26日,有兩千(qian)余群眾攻(gong)打永寧古(gu)城(cheng)。但由于(yu)武器低(di)劣,群眾對堅固(gu)而(er)高峻的石城(cheng)一時無(wu)法攻(gong)破。國(guo)民(min)黨(dang)援(yuan)城(cheng)部隊趕(gan)到后,攻(gong)城(cheng)群眾被迫迅速分散逃離。
民國(guo)三十三年,日本侵略軍進(jin)犯百壽,曾兩次(ci)攻陷(xian)永寧古城,并(bing)盤(pan)據(ju)古城8個月之(zhi)久。在這期(qi)間,抗日自衛隊與日軍間交戰160余次(ci)。
民(min)國(guo)三十八(ba)年,全(quan)國(guo)臨(lin)近(jin)解(jie)放(fang),國(guo)民(min)黨“廣西反共(gong)(gong)救國(guo)軍(jun)(jun)”第十三軍(jun)(jun)下轄(xia)2個師,第七(qi)軍(jun)(jun)一七(qi)二師共(gong)(gong)5000多人退(tui)入(ru)百(bai)壽(shou),妄圖(tu)盤(pan)據古城進行(xing)頑抗(kang)。中(zhong)國(guo)人民(min)解(jie)放(fang)軍(jun)(jun)四(si)十九軍(jun)(jun)一四(si)六師和一四(si)七(qi)師將百(bai)壽(shou)包圍,為了(le)保護人民(min)的生命財產(chan),人民(min)解(jie)放(fang)軍(jun)(jun)勸敵(di)軍(jun)(jun)長周祖(zu)晃(huang)投降。萬余敵(di)人在走投無路的情況(kuang)下,紛紛放(fang)下武器投降。古城免遭炮火轟擊,從而(er)完整的保存(cun)下來。