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[[File: William Tell OneTwo.jpg|200px|thumb|left|A mural showing William Tell’s arrest by GesslerWoodcarving of the Swiss hero shooting the apple of his son’s head]]__NOTOC__

==Investigations into historicity ==How is historically accurate is the story of the William Tell?====By the 18th century, William Tell was a very popular figure in Switzerland, so much so that several antiquarians investigated the story. They did not find any evidence that there was such as figure, nor proof that any person shot an apple off a boy’s head. In the 19th century, the Swiss government ordered an official investigation into the authenticity of the story of William Tell.  There was no document found in relation to that mentions anyone by that name from the late 1200s and early 14th century that mentions anyone by that name .<ref>Head, p . 551</ref>. There is no mention of a person shooting an apple off a boy’s head in any record. However, it should be noted that record keeping was very poor at the time , and many documents would have been lost down the centuries. It was noted pointed out that the first mention of the hero was in the 15th century long after the bowman’s supposed heroics and life.  Many have believed that the story of William Tell and his marksmanship, was not historically accurate. Many historians have expressed doubt about the authenticity of the story because crossbows were not commonly used at the time, especially by poor mountaineers such as William Tell. Crossbows in the 14th century were typically very expensive , and only professional soldiers could afford this technology. Crossbowmen were much sought after as mercenaries in the Middle Ages.  Moreover, there is no support for the story that Tell, and others took an oath to free Switzerland. There are some who Some believe that a linguistic analysis of the legend in order to determine if there was a real-life character .<ref>Head, p . 555</ref>. Some Swiss scholars have turned to etymology in order to provide proof of the historicity of the hero. At the time many people took their surname from their home village or territory. There are Some scholars who hold that the name Tell could derive from a district or villagecommunity. However, these academic exercises do not provide any real evidence for the existence of the Swiss national hero. ====The mythological theory====[[File:William Tell One.jpg|350px|thumb|left|A mural showing William Tell’s arrest by Gessler]]In the 19th century, many academics began the comparative study of myths. They found that many legends, fables, and folktales were similar, and this was because of cultural exchanges between societies. Many researchers who have studied the story of William Tell believe that it is only a myth. There are many similar myths throughout Europe. In these stories, some heroes displayed great marksmanship, and they shot an apple off the head of a person, typically a relative.  There are examples of these stories found in Wales, Denmark, Finland, among others. One theory suggests that the story of William Tell is just the Swiss version of a well-known folktale. It was probably transmitted via trade routes or by migrants, and the story of the great bowman became part of local Swiss culture. This folktale became associated with the Swiss struggle to throw off the Austrian yoke and became so popular, that many assumed that it was based on a real man. This story was told in different ways in many societies throughout the world.<ref> Dundes, A., 1991. The 1991 archer Taylor memorial lecture. The apple-shot: interpreting the legend of William Tell. Western folklore, 50(4), pp.327-360</ref> ====The politics of myth====Despite the almost complete lack of evidence for the existence of William Tell, many firmly believe him to be a real historical figure. In Switzerland, he became the national hero in the 19th century. It seems that the Swiss people needed a hero when the armies of Napoleon occupied its country. He became an embodiment of the nation and its aspirations and showed the people that they could be free. To put it simply the myth was so popular and useful that people wanted it to be true. Moreover, famous artworks, based on the hero, persuaded many people in Switzerland and beyond that Tell was a real person.  Moreover, successive Swiss governments, despite investigations showing that there was no real evidence for the heroes’ existence, continued to pursue policies that treated him as a real-life figure. They erected statues to the man who had purportedly shot an apple off his son’s head and portrayed him as one of the nation's liberators. The Swiss authorities have also used William Tell as a national figure around which people would rally round in times of stress and danger. When Switzerland was threatened in World War One and Two, or during the Cold War, the inspiring story of the bowman was used to boost morale and to promote national unity.<ref>Ritzer, Nadine. "The Cold War in Swiss Classrooms: History Education as a “Powerful Weapon against Communism. “ ''Journal of Educational Media, Memory, and Society 4'', no. 1 (2012): 78-94</ref> ====Conclusion====William Tell is not only the national hero of Switzerland but is an international symbol of freedom. The story of the mountaineer has entered into popular culture, and few have not heard about his adventures. It can be stated with certainty that there is no documentary or archaeological evidence for the existence of the hero. There are no records that he shot the apple off the head of his son or stirred the Swiss people to rebellion.

==The mythological theory==In Much of the 19th century, many academics began alleged facts about the comparative study of mythshero are probably later inventions. There was no historical figure called William Tell. They found It seems that many legends, fables, and folktales were similar, and this was because the origin of cultural exchanges between societies. Many researchers who have studied the story of William Tell, believe that it is only was in a myth. There are many similar myths throughout that was popular in Europe. In these stories, there are heroes who display great marksmanship and they shot an apple off the head of a person, typically a relative. There are examples of these stories found in Wales, Denmark, Finland, among others. One theory suggests that which was adopted by the story people of William Tell is just the Swiss version of a well-known folktaleAlpine Valleys. It later was probably transmitted via trade routes or used as a foundation myth, by migrants and the story of successive Swiss governments to explain the great bowman became part development of local Swiss culture. This folktale became associated with the Swiss struggle to throw off the Austrian yoke and became so popular, that many assumed that it was based on a real man. This is something that has occurred in many societies throughout the world <ref> Dundes, A., 1991. The 1991 archer Taylor memorial lecture. The apple-shot: interpreting the legend of William Tell. Western folklore, 50(4), pp.327-360</ref>Federation.

==The politics of myth==Further Reading====Despite the almost complete lack of evidence for the existence of William TellPuhvel, many firmly believe him to be a real historical figureJaan. In Switzerland, he became the national hero in the 19th century[https://www. It seems that the Swiss people needed a hero when its country was occupied by the armies of Napoleonamazon. He became an embodiment of the nation and its aspirations and showed the people that they could be free. To put it simply the myth was so popular and useful that people wanted it to be true. Moreover, popular artworks, based on the hero persuaded many people in Switzerland and beyond that Tell was a real person. Moreover, successive Swiss governments, despite investigations showing that there was no real evidence for the heroes’ existence, continued to pursue policies that treated him as a realcom/gp/product/0801839386/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0801839386&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-life figure. They erected statues to the man who had purportedly shot an apple off his son’s head and portray him as one of the nation's liberators. The Swiss authorities have also used William Tell as a national figure around which people would rally round in times of stress and danger. When Switzerland was threatened in World War One and Two, or during the Cold War, the inspiring story of the bowman was used to boost morale and to promote national unity<ref>Ritzer, Nadine. "The Cold War in Swiss Classrooms20&linkId=e33314f4f62746d9143cb9eb2598a762 Comparative mythology] (Baltimore: History Education as a “Powerful Weapon against Communism “?." Journal of Educational Media, Memory, and Society 4Johns Hopkins University Press, no. 1 (20121987): 78-94</ref>.

Wilson, John. [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1602061173/ref=as_li_tl?ie=ConclusionUTF8&camp=1789&creative=William Tell is not only the national hero of Switzerland but is an international symbol of freedom. The story of the mountaineer has entered into popular culture and there are few who have not heard about his adventures. It can be stated with certainty that there is no documentary or archaeological evidence for the existence of the hero. There are no records that he shot the apple off the head of his son or stirred the Swiss people to rebellion. In fact, much of the alleged facts about the hero are probably later inventions. There was no historical figure called William Tell. It seems that the origin of the story was in a myth that was popular in Europe, and which was adopted by the people of the Alpine Valleys. It later was used as a foundation myth, by successive Swiss governments to explain the development of the Swiss Federation. 9325&creativeASIN=1602061173&linkCode=Further Readingas2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=Puhvel478b20bb7c7f1d0bd2ce6be18bdb2a0a The History of Switzerland] (New York, Cosimo, JaanInc. Comparative mythology (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 19872007).

WilsonMiller, JohnDouglas. [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0850453348/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0850453348&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=af2da98d3bb1b6ebf9b260a057dfe327 The history of Switzerland Swiss at War 1300-1500]. No. 94 (New YorkLondon, Cosimo, Inc.Osprey Publishing, 20071979).

Miller, Douglas. The Swiss at War 1300-1500. No. 94 (London, Osprey Publishing, 1979).====References====<references/>[[Category:Wikis]][[Category:European History]] [[Category:Historically Accurate]] [[Category:History of the Middle Ages]]