William Tell becomes a legend

In the center square of Altdorf, Switzerland, a small town nestled in the Alps, his statue stands: chest proudly out, crossbow resting on his shoulder, gazing off into the distance, with his arm around the shoulders of a young boy, his son. Centuries ago, William Tell of Uri and his son were strolling through the market square of the town just as bailiff Gessler, agent of the Hapsburg duke of Austria, placed a hat on a pole, representing the Hapsburg monarchy, and ordered everyone in the square to kneel before it in symbolic submission. Tell refused to kneel. He was seized, charged, and given a choice. He’d gain his freedom if he could shoot an apple from his son’s head.

On this day, November 18, in 1307, William Tell, an expert marksman, aimed a crossbow for the apple on his son’s head, and split it cleanly in two, winning his freedom. Before his release, however, he explained to Gessler he had two bolts in the crossbow, because if he missed the apple, the next one would be aimed for him. That was enough for the bailiff to take Tell in.

Bound and put on a prison ship, Tell was seemingly destined to spend the rest of his life imprisoned, but fate intervened: a storm struck the ship, and in the ensuing chaos Tell escaped back to his homeland, finding and assassinating Gessier and sparking a rebellion that ultimately led to Swiss independence. His crossbow is now Switzerland’s official symbol, displayed on every product they export.