Wilhelm Tell (in French Guillaume Tell) is a hero of the independence of Switzerland. Probably legendary figure, nevertheless he would have lived in the canton of Uri on the lakesides of the lake of Lucerne. The imperial baillif of Schwytz and Uri, in the service of Habsbourg, whom try to reaffirm their authority in the area, Hermann Gessler gave an order to set up a mast surmounted by his hat, demanding that the inhabitants greet it as if it were indeed present by himself.