Today in History
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Today in History |
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November 18, 1307 |
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According to legend, on this day in 1307, William Tell was arrested by Hermann Gessler, a local magistrate in Switzerland seeking to enforce Hapsburg rule in the region. Tell had refused to bow to a symbol of Hapsburg rule in the town square of Burglen. As punishment, Gessler forced Tell, a famed bowman, to shoot an apple off of Tell's young son's head. Tell did so successfully. When Gessler asked why Tell had with him two arrows, Tell indicated that had he missed and killed his son, the second arrow was for Gessler. Tell later killed Gessler in a battle with a crossbow. |
