*Ø* Wilson's Almanac free daily ezine | The Legend of William Tell | Gessler Switzerland Wilhem apple crossbow cross bow Sabine Baring-Gould Emperor Albert I of Hapsburg saga Norse

On November 18, 1307 William Tell (Wilhelm Tell) famously shot the apple off his son's head. One aspect of the tale is defiance of authority; another is the strong bond between a father and his child. I suppose that it why I and so many people like it, and why this simple story has survived the centuries.

The legend as told by Sabine Baring-Gould in Curious Myths of the Middle Ages (London, 1866) (Source): In the year 1307, Gessler, Vogt (local governor) of the Emperor Albert I of Hapsburg (c. 1255 - 1308), German king, and duke of Austria, eldest son of King Rudolph I of Habsburg, set a hat on a pole as symbol of imperial power, and ordered everyone who passed by to salute it. On this day, tradition has it, a mountaineer of the name of Wilhelm Tell boldly passed by the symbol of authority without saluting. By Gessler's command he was at once seized and brought before him. As Tell was known to be an expert archer, he was ordered by way of punishment to shoot an apple off the head of his own son.

Finding no way out of it, Tell submitted to Gessler's authority. The apple was placed on the child's head, Tell bent his bow, the arrow sped, and apple and arrow fell to the ground together. But the Vogt noticed that Tell, before shooting, had stuck another arrow into his belt, and he enquired the reason.

“It was for you,” replied the sturdy archer. “Had I shot my child, know that it would not have missed your heart.”

In Norwegian history, it also appears with variations again and again. It is told of King Olaf the Saint, who died in 1030, that, desiring the conversion of a brave heathen named Eindridi, he competed with him in various athletic sports. He swam with him, wrestled, and then shot with him. The king dared Eindridi to strike a writing-tablet from off his son's head with an arrow. Eindridi prepared to attempt the difficult shot. The king bade two men bind the eyes of the child and hold the napkin, so that he should not move when he heard the whistle of the arrow. The king aimed first, and the arrow grazed the lad's head. Eindridi then prepared to shoot, but the mother of the boy interfered, and persuaded the king to abandon this dangerous test of skill. In this version also, Eindridi is prepared to revenge himself on the king, should the child be injured.

However, a closer approximation still to the William Tell legend is found in the life of Hemingr, another Norse archer who was challenged by King Harald, who died in 1066.

The island was densely overgrown with wood, and the people went into the forest. The king took a spear and set it with its point in the soil, then he laid an arrow on the string and shot up into the air. The arrow turned in the air and came down upon the spear-shaft and stood up in it. Hemingr took another arrow and shot up. His was lost to sight for some time, but it came back and pierced the nick of the king's arrow ... Then the king took a knife and stuck it into an oak. He next drew his bow and planted an arrow in the haft of the knife. Thereupon Hemingr took his arrows. The king stood by him and said: “They are all inlaid with gold, you are a capital workman.”

Hemingr answered: “They are not of my manufacture, but are presents.” He shot, and his arrow cleft the haft, and the point entered the socket of the blade.

“We must have a keener contest,” said the king, taking an arrow and flushing with anger. Then he laid the arrow on the string and drew his bow to the farthest, so that the horns were nearly brought to meet. Away flashed the arrow, and pierced a tender twig. All said that this was a most astonishing feat of dexterity. But Hemingr shot from a greater distance and split a hazel nut. All were astonished to see this. Then said the king: “Take a nut and set it on the head of your brother Bjorn, and aim at it from precisely the same distance. If you miss the mark, then your life goes.”

Hemingr answered: “Sire, my life is at your disposal, but I will not adventure that shot.” Then out spoke Bjorn: “Shoot, brother, rather than die yourself.” Hemingr said “Have you the pluck to stand quite still without shrinking?” “I will do my best.” said Bjorn. “Then let the king stand by,” said Hemingr, “and let him see whether I touch the nut”.

The king agreed, and bade Oddr Ufeig's son stand by Bjorn and see that the shot was fair. Hemingr then went to the spot fixed for him by the king, and signed himself with the cross, saying; “God be my witness that I had rather die myself than injure my brother Bjorn; let all the blame rest on King Harald.”

Then Hemingr flung his spear. The spear went straight to the mark and passed between the nut and the crown of the lad, who was not in the least injured. It flew further, and stopped not till it fell ...

Years afterwards, this risk was avenged upon the hard-hearted monarch. In the battle of Stamford Bridge an arrow from a skilled archer penetrated the wind-pipe of the king, and it is supposed to have sped, observes the Saga writer, from the bow of Hemingr, then in the service of the English monarch.

The William Tell story is found in different versions scattered through countries as remote as Persia and Iceland, Switzerland and Finland. Saxo Grammaticus, a writer in twelfth century Denmark, tells the story of a hero of his own country, who lived in the tenth century. He relates the incident as follows:

The same incident is told of Egil, brother of the mythical Velundr, in the Saga of Thidrik, or Thidrek, known as Dietrich to the Germans.

On January 1, 1308, it is said, in order to fight the Austrian oppressors of their native Switzerland William Tell formed a fighting band with some countrymen.