永(yong)寧(ning)州古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)位于(yu)廣西桂林市永(yong)福縣百壽鎮北(bei)(bei)端,與百壽巖(yan)隔河相望(wang)。 永(yong)寧(ning)州古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)始建于(yu)明成化十(shi)三(san)(san)年(nian)(nian)(1477),至今已經歷(li)(li)537年(nian)(nian)的(de)風風雨雨。古城(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)(qiang)周長(chang)約1000米(mi)(mi)(mi),高5米(mi)(mi)(mi),厚(hou)(hou)2米(mi)(mi)(mi)多(duo)。成化十(shi)八(ba)年(nian)(nian),改砌為(wei)石城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng);隆慶六年(nian)(nian)(1572),古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)往(wang)西被擴(kuo)寬80余(yu)米(mi)(mi)(mi),建城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men)(men)四(si)座,東門(men)(men)叫“東興(xing)門(men)(men)”,南門(men)(men)稱“鎮寧(ning)門(men)(men)”,西門(men)(men)喊“安(an)定門(men)(men)”,北(bei)(bei)門(men)(men)為(wei)“迎恩門(men)(men)”。至萬(wan)歷(li)(li)三(san)(san)年(nian)(nian),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)增高到(dao)1.3米(mi)(mi)(mi),加厚(hou)(hou)到(dao)0.6米(mi)(mi)(mi);萬(wan)歷(li)(li)八(ba)年(nian)(nian)(1580),古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)往(wang)北(bei)(bei)又擴(kuo)展100米(mi)(mi)(mi),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)周長(chang)擴(kuo)建為(wei)1277米(mi)(mi)(mi),高6.33米(mi)(mi)(mi),厚(hou)(hou)3.2米(mi)(mi)(mi),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)頭垛637個,窩鋪12個,兵(bing)馬司4處(chu),并在四(si)座城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men)(men)之上建起門(men)(men)樓。萬(wan)歷(li)(li)十(shi)四(si)年(nian)(nian)(1586),在古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)東面(mian)筑護城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河堤(di)430余(yu)米(mi)(mi)(mi),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)再(zai)次加厚(hou)(hou),并加女墻(qiang)(qiang)窩鋪。
據(ju)文物專家考察(cha),永寧州古城,在五百多(duo)年(nian)的歷(li)史(shi)長河中(zhong),在軍事上(shang)曾起過極重要(yao)的作用,是兵家必爭(zheng)之地(di)。每(mei)次改(gai)朝(chao)換(huan)代,永寧州古城必遇(yu)兵災戰(zhan)火(huo)。但(dan)它能(neng)(neng)(neng)歷(li)經五百多(duo)年(nian)風風雨(yu)雨(yu)還能(neng)(neng)(neng)比較(jiao)完(wan)整地(di)保存(cun)下來,不(bu)能(neng)(neng)(neng)不(bu)說是一個奇跡(ji)。
永寧(ning)州古(gu)(gu)城地(di)處(chu)桂林至融安的(de)險要地(di)段,僅有(you)一條(tiao)古(gu)(gu)道(dao)(dao)從這(zhe)里(li)(li)的(de)大峽(xia)谷中通(tong)過(guo)。古(gu)(gu)城就(jiu)(jiu)建在(zai)古(gu)(gu)道(dao)(dao)的(de)必經之(zhi)處(chu),兩(liang)面(mian)有(you)天(tian)然河(he)流為護城河(he),四周數(shu)十(shi)公(gong)(gong)里(li)(li)都是高(gao)山大嶺。其北面(mian)6公(gong)(gong)里(li)(li)處(chu)有(you)綿亙十(shi)余公(gong)(gong)里(li)(li)的(de)險要關隘——三(san)臺嶺(舊(jiu)稱(cheng)三(san)厄(e)嶺)。永寧(ning)州古(gu)(gu)城就(jiu)(jiu)處(chu)在(zai)三(san)臺嶺險隘下的(de)古(gu)(gu)道(dao)(dao)上,它就(jiu)(jiu)像一個關隘,進可攻,退可守,大有(you)一夫(fu)當關,萬夫(fu)莫開之(zhi)勢。
據《永(yong)福縣志(zhi)》記(ji)載(zai),明弘治五年(1492)后,由韋朝威(wei)、覃萬賢、韋銀豹所率領的壯(zhuang)族農(nong)民起義(yi)隊伍,曾(ceng)攻占(zhan)永(yong)寧(ning)州古(gu)城(cheng)80余年,使這座(zuo)大山之中的古(gu)城(cheng),一度成(cheng)為廣西農(nong)民起義(yi)的中心。
清(qing)(qing)(qing)康熙十(shi)一年(公元(yuan)1672年),南北(bei)城樓曾被大火燒毀,城墻多處崩(beng)塌,后修復。清(qing)(qing)(qing)光(guang)緒三十(shi)八年(1902),附近(jin)爆(bao)發(fa)了(le)覃老發(fa)抗清(qing)(qing)(qing)斗爭(zheng),抗清(qing)(qing)(qing)隊(dui)伍向永寧州進發(fa),州城岌岌可危(wei)。清(qing)(qing)(qing)朝急派(pai)大部隊(dui)增援,方保住古城。
民國(guo)十二年,當地土匪韋侯凡被桂林自治(zhi)軍收編后,進駐永寧州古城(cheng)自稱縣(xian)長,向百姓納(na)稅派(pai)糧,引起民眾(zhong)暴(bao)動。當地群眾(zhong)上千人(ren)拿著(zhu)大刀、長矛(mao)、火銃等,猛烈(lie)攻(gong)打古城(cheng)多天。但由(you)于(yu)石城(cheng)堅固(gu),難(nan)以(yi)攻(gong)下。暴(bao)動的群眾(zhong)圍(wei)困古城(cheng)七天七夜后,韋九勾被迫向暴(bao)動的群眾(zhong)投降。
民(min)(min)國二十四(si)年,中(zhong)(渡)、融(rong)(安(an)(an))、百(壽)三縣人民(min)(min)反對廣西實行的“三自三寓”政策和“國民(min)(min)軍(jun)訓”,融(rong)(安(an)(an))縣一青年逃避征練,被政府槍決,激起(qi)七(qi)、八千人民(min)(min)眾(zhong)爆動(dong)。當(dang)年8月26日,有(you)兩千余群(qun)眾(zhong)攻(gong)打永寧(ning)古城。但(dan)由于(yu)武器低(di)劣,群(qun)眾(zhong)對堅固(gu)而高(gao)峻的石城一時無法攻(gong)破。國民(min)(min)黨援城部隊(dui)趕到后(hou),攻(gong)城群(qun)眾(zhong)被迫(po)迅速分散逃離。
民(min)國三(san)十三(san)年,日本(ben)侵略軍(jun)進犯百壽(shou),曾兩次攻陷永寧(ning)古城,并盤據(ju)古城8個月之久。在這期(qi)間(jian),抗日自衛隊與日軍(jun)間(jian)交戰160余次。
民(min)(min)國(guo)三十(shi)八年(nian),全國(guo)臨近解放(fang),國(guo)民(min)(min)黨(dang)“廣(guang)西反共(gong)救(jiu)國(guo)軍(jun)”第十(shi)三軍(jun)下轄(xia)2個師,第七(qi)軍(jun)一七(qi)二師共(gong)5000多人退入百壽(shou),妄(wang)圖盤據古城進(jin)行頑抗。中國(guo)人民(min)(min)解放(fang)軍(jun)四十(shi)九軍(jun)一四六師和一四七(qi)師將百壽(shou)包(bao)圍(wei),為了保(bao)護人民(min)(min)的生命財產,人民(min)(min)解放(fang)軍(jun)勸敵軍(jun)長周(zhou)祖晃(huang)投降(jiang)。萬余(yu)敵人在走投無路的情況下,紛(fen)紛(fen)放(fang)下武器投降(jiang)。古城免遭炮火轟(hong)擊(ji),從而完整的保(bao)存(cun)下來。