On November 18, 1307, Swiss archer William Tell split an apple into two pieces on his son’s head with a well-aimed arrow. For defying Austrian authority, both he and his son were to be executed, but their lives would be spared if Tell, an excellent marksman, could hit the apple. Ever since, William Tell has been perhaps the greatest Swiss hero, the symbol of patriotism. But was he real?
Digging Deeper
Written accounts of the incident only surfaced in the late 15th century, almost 170 years later. It is typical that many events in history, be they real or fictional, are only recorded long after the fact. Accounts of Alexander the Great, for example, were written a couple hundred years after his death, and the Gospels of Christ were written decades after the crucifixion.
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