Ham, Somme

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Ham is a commune of the Somme département in northern France. French general Foy was born there.

[edit] The Castle of Ham

The town of Ham contains the remains of a castle, first raised during the 13th century reign of Odon IV]], and converted into a formidable fortress in the 15th century by John II of Luxembourg, Count of Ligny. John's nephew, Louis of Luxembourg (Count of Saint-Pôl and constable of Louis XI) in 1465 built it into a monumental keep.

Jacques Cassard was imprisoned in the castle of Ham between 1726 and 1740.

In 1840, this castle became the prison of prince Napoleon III of France; he escaped some six years later, disguised as a mason.

In March 1917, the castle was largely destroyed by German invaders during World War I; today only the control tower and some vestiges of the keep and the ramparts remain.

[edit] References

• Ham, its castle and its prisoners, Charles Gomart, 1864; republished in 2000.