Ham

Ham is a commune located in the Somme department within the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. First mentioned in historical records in 932 as belonging to the seigneur Erard of the Counts of Ponthieu, the town later came under the control of the Counts of Vermandois in the 12th century. Its most prominent historical feature is the Castle of Ham, which evolved significantly over centuries.

The Castle of Ham

The construction of stone ramparts at the Castle of Ham began in the 13th century under the nobleman Odon IV. In the 15th century, John II of Luxembourg transformed the castle into a formidable fortress. His nephew, Louis of Luxembourg, further enhanced its defenses by building a massive donjon in 1465, standing 33 meters high with a diameter of 33 meters and walls 11 meters thick. However, the castle suffered extensive damage during World War I when German forces destroyed much of it in 1917. Today, only the entrance tower and vestiges of the donjon and ramparts remain, marking the site as a historical ruin.

Historical Context and Notable Associations

Beyond its fortifications, Ham has been a site of historical events and the birthplace or confinement place for notable individuals. From April 7 to June 3, 1917, the town served as a base for the Lafayette Escadrille, a group of American volunteer pilots who fought for France during World War I. Historically, the château also served as a prison. Jacques Cassard was imprisoned there from 1726 to 1740, and Louis Napoleon Bonaparte was held from 1840 to 1846 before his escape. Francis de Bourbon and General Maximilien Sebastien Foy were born in Ham in the late 15th and late 18th centuries, respectively. The commune also saw the incorporation of the nearby villages of Estouilly and Saint-Sulpice in the mid-1960s.