William Tell: Difference between revisions
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Wilhelm (or William) Tell is a legendary Swiss folk hero (of questionable historicity), said to have lived in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. According to the story, his resistance to the Habsburg overlords of what is now central Switzerland served as the basis for a wider rebellion and the foundation of the Swiss Confederation. |
Wilhelm (or William) Tell is a legendary Swiss folk hero (of questionable historicity), said to have lived in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. According to the story, his resistance to the Habsburg overlords of what is now central Switzerland served as the basis for a wider rebellion and the foundation of the Swiss Confederation. |
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The legend is fairly simple: In 1307, the Habsburg Duke of Austria has sent the reeve [[The Dragon|Albrecht Gessler]] to the canton of [ |
The legend is fairly simple: In 1307, the Habsburg Duke of Austria has sent the reeve [[The Dragon|Albrecht Gessler]] to the canton of [[wikipedia:Canton of Uri|Uri]] (by the shores of Lake Lucerne), in order to strengthen his control over the region. Gessler is a ruthless authoritarian and quickly makes himself unpopular. He has his hat put up on a pole in the town of Altdorf, and decrees that all passers-by must bow before it. |
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One day, an [[Mountain Man|alpine shepherd]] and expert crossbowman called Willhelm Tell comes to town with his son Walter and refuses to pay tribute to the hat. Gessler is furious and has him arrested. Hearing about Tell's marksmanship skills, he agrees to spare him and his son from the death penalty on one condition: That Tell must shoot an apple from his son's head in the town square. Tell, not having much choice, takes two bolts from his quiver and loads one before taking the shot. He succeeds, splitting the apple while leaving Walter unharmed. When Gessler askes him what the other bolt was for, Tell replies that if he had hit his son, the other bolt would have been for Gessler. |
One day, an [[Mountain Man|alpine shepherd]] and expert crossbowman called Willhelm Tell comes to town with his son Walter and refuses to pay tribute to the hat. Gessler is furious and has him arrested. Hearing about Tell's marksmanship skills, he agrees to spare him and his son from the death penalty on one condition: That Tell must shoot an apple from his son's head in the town square. Tell, not having much choice, takes two bolts from his quiver and loads one before taking the shot. He succeeds, splitting the apple while leaving Walter unharmed. When Gessler askes him what the other bolt was for, Tell replies that if he had hit his son, the other bolt would have been for Gessler. |
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* [[Improbable Aiming Skills]]: Tell's skill with a crossbow is his most famous attribute. |
* [[Improbable Aiming Skills]]: Tell's skill with a crossbow is his most famous attribute. |
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* [[The High Middle Ages]] |
* [[The High Middle Ages]] |
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* [[How Do You Like Them Apples]] |
* [[How Do You Like Them Apples?]] |
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* [[Mountain Man]]: Tell is generally depicted as embodying this image wholeheartedly, [[Badass Beard]] and all. |
* [[Mountain Man]]: Tell is generally depicted as embodying this image wholeheartedly, [[Badass Beard]] and all. |
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* [[Nice Hat]]: Gessler's hat is sufficiently nice that he elevates it to the status of an idol. |
* [[Nice Hat]]: Gessler's hat is sufficiently nice that he elevates it to the status of an idol. |
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