You probably know of the famed William Tell... shot an apple of his son's head? The one that has the famous overture written for him that also doubles as the theme to the old Lone Ranger shows?

The legend has it that this was prompted by Hermann Gessler, a chap appointed to be the overseer of the Swiss town where Tell lived.

As a symbol of power, Gessler erected a pole in the centre of the town and put his hat on it. He made an edict that the townspeople MUST bow to his hat as they passed to show respect for the new Vogt in town!

Well, leave it to old Billy that, indeed, when time came that he was passing, he forgot to bow... and was caught.

Gessler arrested him and as punishment, had him shoot the apple off his son's head... he misses, both of them would be executed. He hits the apple, both go free.

Tell arrives to do the deed with his crossbow and two arrows in his quiver... in one shot, he splits the apple and wins his freedom.

Afterwards, Gessler asks him why he had two arrows? Tell replies that had he missed the apple, he would have used the second arrow to kill Gessler.

This didn't sit well, so Gessler had Tell arrested and effectively "deported" by ship... well, thanks to a storm, Tell escaped, made his way back to town and killed Gessler.

This led to a revolution that would end up seeing the formation of the Swiss Confederation.

Yup, this is the cherished tale of William Tell... Freedom fighter... Father... Rebel who helped build a nation... A man to which statues are built and who's life is generally celebrated...

...and like King Arthur of England, he most likely...

Yup, like King Arthur, the information that "shows" that William Tell existed is shakey... VERY shakey... and the evidence that his life and his legend were a story made to focus people on Confederation in Switzerland is rather convincing.

Arthur, had he existed, would not even know what "shining armour" was or even "chivalry" as they were both invented centuries after he would have died... he was most likely "invented" to make the current monarchs in France and England feel that their lineage was "magical"... basically, a fairy story for the Royals and a mythos for the commoners.

Tell, who's legend bares a striking resemblance to the Danish saga of Palnatoke, was invented as a symbol to the commoners that fighting the "good fight" for democracy and decency is the thing to do, and as a warning to those in power... mess with the masses and be picking arrow-splinters from your new open wound.

Did William Tell exist? It's possible... but the evidence is very shakey... and there is something spooky about the ancient legend of Palnatoke being so close to his story...

I do know this for sure, MANY people in Switzerland do not doubt that Tell existed... and one historian, for suggesting otherwise, received death threats and fled the country!

Then again, if YOU built an expensive statue to a legend that you found out could be fictional, you'd be a little ticked too.