The legendary national hero of Switzerland, whose deeds are based on a Teutonic myth of widespread occurrence in northern Europe.
Fable has it that Tell was the champion of the Swiss in the War of Independence against the Emperor Albert I (slain 1308). Tell refused to salute the cap of Gessler, the imperial governor, and for this act of independence was sentenced to shoot with his bow and arrow an apple from the head of his own son. Tell succeeded in this dangerous skill-trial, but in his agitation dropped an arrow from his robe.
The governor insolently demanded what the second arrow was for, and Tell fearlessly replied, “To shoot you with, had I failed in the task imposed upon me.” Gessler now ordered him to be carried in chains across the lake and cast into Küssnacht castle, a prey “to the reptiles that lodged there.” He was, however, rescued by the peasantry, and having shot Gessler, freed his country from the Austrian yoke.
This legend is the subject of Lemierre tragedy Guillaume Tell ( 1766), Schiller Wilhelm Tell ( 1804), Knowles’ William Tell ( 1840) and Rossini opera, William Tell ( 1829).
Saxo Grammaticus tells nearly the same story respecting the Danish Toki, who killed Harald, and similar tales are told of the Scandinavian Egil and King Nidung, of Adam Bell, Clym of the Clough, William of Cloudesley and Henry IV, Olaf and Eindridi, etc.
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