biography
| name: |
Tell, Wilhelm
|
| |
Eng William Tell
|
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (13th–14th-c)
|
| biography:
| Legendary Swiss patriot of Bürglen in Uri, a famous crossbow marksman, reputedly the saviour of his native district from the oppressions of Austria. According to tradition, he was compelled by the tyrannical Austrian governor to shoot an apple off his own son's head from a distance of 80 paces. Later, Tell slew the tyrant, and so initiated the movement which secured the independence of Switzerland. Similar tales are found in the folklore of many countries, and Tell's existence is disputed. His name first occurs in a chronicle of 1470. |
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