Everyone has heard the legends surrounding William Tell, about how he shot an apple off the head of his son. But is there any truth to this myth or, like many things in this world, is he simply a fictional character?

William Tell was a Swiss hero who led his country against Austria. The Austrian governer, Gessler, ordered Tell to shoot at an apple placed on his son's head. Tell hit the apple with his first arrow. He then told Gessler that, if his first arrow had slain his son, his second would have killed Gessler. He was imprisoned for his impudence but, after his release, he ambushed and killed Gessler and initiated a rising which is supposed to have led to national independence.

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