永(yong)寧州(zhou)古城(cheng)始建于明成化(hua)十三年(nian)(nian)(1477),至今已(yi)經歷537年(nian)(nian)的風(feng)風(feng)雨(yu)雨(yu)。永(yong)寧州(zhou)古城(cheng)原為古田縣治,明隆慶五年(nian)(nian)(1571)升為直隸州(zhou),稱(cheng)“永(yong)寧”,永(yong)寧州(zhou)古城(cheng)由(you)此而(er)得名。
永寧(ning)州古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)位于廣西(xi)桂林市(shi)永福縣百(bai)壽鎮北端(duan),與百(bai)壽巖隔(ge)河相(xiang)望。永寧(ning)州古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)始建(jian)于明成化十三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1477),至今已經(jing)歷537年(nian)(nian)(nian)的(de)風(feng)(feng)風(feng)(feng)雨雨。古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)最先為(wei)土城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻周(zhou)長約1000米,高5米,厚(hou)2米多。成化十八(ba)年(nian)(nian)(nian),改(gai)砌為(wei)石(shi)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng);隆慶六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1572),古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)往(wang)西(xi)被擴寬80余米,建(jian)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men)四(si)座(zuo),東(dong)門(men)叫“東(dong)興(xing)門(men)”,南門(men)稱“鎮寧(ning)門(men)”,西(xi)門(men)喊“安定門(men)”,北門(men)為(wei)“迎恩門(men)”。至萬歷三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻增高到1.3米,加(jia)厚(hou)到0.6米;萬歷八(ba)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1580),古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)往(wang)北又擴展100米,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)周(zhou)長擴建(jian)為(wei)1277米,高6.33米,厚(hou)3.2米,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)頭垛(duo)637個,窩(wo)鋪(pu)12個,兵馬司(si)4處,并(bing)在四(si)座(zuo)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men)之上(shang)建(jian)起門(men)樓(lou)。萬歷十四(si)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1586),在古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)東(dong)面筑護(hu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河堤430余米,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻再次加(jia)厚(hou),并(bing)加(jia)女墻窩(wo)鋪(pu)。
據文物專家考察,永寧州(zhou)古城(cheng),在五(wu)百多(duo)年(nian)的歷史長河中,在軍事(shi)上曾起過極(ji)重要的作用,是兵家必爭之地(di)。每(mei)次改朝換(huan)代,永寧州(zhou)古城(cheng)必遇(yu)兵災戰火。但(dan)它能(neng)歷經(jing)五(wu)百多(duo)年(nian)風風雨(yu)雨(yu)還(huan)能(neng)比較(jiao)完整地(di)保存下來,不能(neng)不說是一個(ge)奇跡。
永寧州古城(cheng)(cheng)地(di)處桂林至融安的(de)(de)(de)險要地(di)段,僅(jin)有(you)一(yi)條古道(dao)從這(zhe)里(li)的(de)(de)(de)大峽谷(gu)中通過。古城(cheng)(cheng)就建在古道(dao)的(de)(de)(de)必經之處,兩面有(you)天然(ran)河流(liu)為(wei)護城(cheng)(cheng)河,四(si)周數(shu)十公里(li)都是高山大嶺。其北(bei)面6公里(li)處有(you)綿亙十余公里(li)的(de)(de)(de)險要關(guan)隘(ai)(ai)——三臺嶺(舊稱三厄(e)嶺)。永寧州古城(cheng)(cheng)就處在三臺嶺險隘(ai)(ai)下的(de)(de)(de)古道(dao)上(shang),它就像一(yi)個(ge)關(guan)隘(ai)(ai),進(jin)可攻,退可守,大有(you)一(yi)夫(fu)當關(guan),萬(wan)夫(fu)莫開之勢。
據《永(yong)福縣志(zhi)》記載(zai),明弘治(zhi)五年(nian)(1492)后,由韋(wei)朝(chao)威、覃萬賢、韋(wei)銀豹(bao)所率領的壯族農民起義隊伍,曾攻(gong)占永(yong)寧州古(gu)(gu)城(cheng)80余年(nian),使這座(zuo)大山之中(zhong)的古(gu)(gu)城(cheng),一度成為廣西農民起義的中(zhong)心。
清(qing)(qing)康熙(xi)十一年(nian)(公元1672年(nian)),南北城樓曾被大(da)火燒毀,城墻(qiang)多處崩塌,后修復。清(qing)(qing)光緒三十八年(nian)(1902),附(fu)近爆發(fa)了覃(tan)老發(fa)抗(kang)清(qing)(qing)斗(dou)爭,抗(kang)清(qing)(qing)隊(dui)伍(wu)向永寧州(zhou)進發(fa),州(zhou)城岌(ji)岌(ji)可危(wei)。清(qing)(qing)朝(chao)急派大(da)部隊(dui)增(zeng)援,方保住古城。
民國十二(er)年,當(dang)地土匪韋(wei)侯凡被桂林自(zi)(zi)治軍(jun)收編后(hou),進駐永寧州古城(cheng)自(zi)(zi)稱縣長,向百姓納稅派糧,引起民眾暴動(dong)。當(dang)地群眾上千人拿著(zhu)大刀、長矛(mao)、火銃等,猛(meng)烈攻(gong)打古城(cheng)多(duo)天。但由于石城(cheng)堅(jian)固,難以(yi)攻(gong)下。暴動(dong)的群眾圍(wei)困古城(cheng)七天七夜(ye)后(hou),韋(wei)九勾被迫向暴動(dong)的群眾投降。
民國二十四年,中(渡)、融(rong)(安)、百(壽(shou))三(san)縣人(ren)民反對(dui)廣西(xi)實行的“三(san)自三(san)寓”政(zheng)策和“國民軍訓”,融(rong)(安)縣一青(qing)年逃避(bi)征練,被政(zheng)府槍決,激起七、八千(qian)人(ren)民眾(zhong)爆動。當年8月26日,有兩千(qian)余群眾(zhong)攻(gong)打永寧古城(cheng)。但由(you)于武(wu)器(qi)低劣,群眾(zhong)對(dui)堅固而高(gao)峻的石城(cheng)一時無法攻(gong)破。國民黨援城(cheng)部隊(dui)趕(gan)到后,攻(gong)城(cheng)群眾(zhong)被迫迅速(su)分散逃離(li)。
民國三十(shi)三年,日(ri)本侵(qin)略軍進犯百(bai)壽(shou),曾兩次攻陷永寧(ning)古城,并盤據(ju)古城8個月(yue)之久。在這(zhe)期(qi)間,抗(kang)日(ri)自(zi)衛隊與日(ri)軍間交戰160余次。
民(min)國三十八年,全國臨(lin)近解(jie)放,國民(min)黨“廣西反共救(jiu)國軍”第十三軍下(xia)(xia)轄2個師(shi),第七軍一(yi)七二師(shi)共5000多(duo)人(ren)退入百壽,妄(wang)圖盤(pan)據古(gu)城(cheng)進行(xing)頑抗。中國人(ren)民(min)解(jie)放軍四(si)十九軍一(yi)四(si)六師(shi)和(he)一(yi)四(si)七師(shi)將百壽包圍,為(wei)了保(bao)護人(ren)民(min)的(de)生(sheng)命(ming)財產(chan),人(ren)民(min)解(jie)放軍勸敵(di)軍長周祖(zu)晃投(tou)降(jiang)。萬(wan)余敵(di)人(ren)在走(zou)投(tou)無路的(de)情況下(xia)(xia),紛紛放下(xia)(xia)武器投(tou)降(jiang)。古(gu)城(cheng)免遭炮火轟擊,從而(er)完整(zheng)的(de)保(bao)存下(xia)(xia)來。