Legend of William Tell

Gone Medieval

History Hit

History

4.6 • 2.2K Ratings

🗓️ 12 August 2025

⏱️ 61 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What happened when tyranny came face to face with an imperturbable crossbow sharp-shooter?

Dr. Eleanor Janega explores the myth of Switzerland’s most iconic medieval folk hero with Dr. Marc Lerner. They revisit Altdorf in 1307 where William Tell - allegedly - defied a tyrant with a single, legendary shot and launched a legacy of freedom, resistance, and revolution. But was Tell real or a myth built from folklore? And how did his story echo across the French and American Revolutions, becoming a powerful symbol of liberty far beyond the Swiss Alps?

Joan of Arc

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4hBFIbXaKdchf8eTKVrgNf

German Peasants War

https://open.spotify.com/episode/57KnTNLmI2LAua6742ompD

Gone Medieval is presented by Dr.Eleanor Janega. It was edited by Amy Haddow, the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, I'm Matt Lewis.
0:02.6	And I'm Dr. Eleanor Yonaga.
0:04.2	And we're just popping up here to tell you some insider info.
0:08.0	If you would like to listen to Gone Medieval ad-free and get early access and bonus episodes,
0:13.3	sign up to History Hit.
0:14.5	With the History Hit subscription, you can also watch hundreds of hours of original documentaries.
0:20.6	Such as my new series on everyone's favorite
0:22.8	conquerors, the Normans, or my recent exploration of the castles that made Britain. There's a new
0:29.9	release to enjoy every week. Sign up now by visiting historyhit.com forward slash subscribe, or find a link in the show notes for this episode.
0:45.0	Do you belong here?
0:53.3	Next to me about to jump into the sea on an army co-steering expedition.
0:57.0	What's your gut saying?
0:59.0	Walk away from the edge.
1:01.0	Or jump in and join a team that we buy your side for life?
1:13.0	Still listening? you belong here.
1:16.2	Army, recruiting now.
1:17.8	Search Army jobs.
1:23.3	Hello, I'm Dr. Eleanorianica, and welcome to Gone Medieval from History Hit, the podcast that
1:29.1	delves into the greatest millennium in human history. We uncover the greatest mysteries,
1:35.5	the gobsmacking details, and the latest groundbreaking research from the Vikings to the Normans,
1:41.7	from kings to popes, to the Crusades. We delve into the rebellions,
1:47.7	plots and murders that tell us who we really were. And how we got here.
	...

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