History Series / ByTheSwordDivided

* NiceHat: It's set in TheCavalierYears. What do you expect?

* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: The cast includes two noble families and their household servants, as well as their allies and recurring enemies.

* GoodAdulteryBadAdultery: Anne has an affair with Major General Horton after becoming estranged from John. John blames himself for the estrangement and does not confront her about it but Tom uses the affair as a pretext to challenge Horton to a duel.
** [[spoiler: Susan Protheroe sleeps with Hannibal Marsh in the hope of receiving his protection. She is ''not'' happy when she discovers that he has a wife back home and never had any intention of taking Susan with him.]]

* HistoricalHeroUpgrade: Prince Rupert. In the show he is presented as a charming and gallant soldier, with no reference to his reckless aggression or habit of violently sacking enemy towns. Potentially {{Justified}} because we only see him away from the battlefield and through the eyes of the Laceys, his friends and allies.

* WorldOfHam: Some of the performances would not be out of place in Series/{{Blackadder}} but the show is [[TropesAreNotBad no less enjoyable for it.]]

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An [[HistoricalFiction historical drama]] series broadcast by the [[Creator/TheBBC BBC]] from [[TheEighties 1983 to 1985]]. It was created by John Hawkesworth, who produced [[UpstairsDownstairs a certain other sweeping historical drama about a wealthy family and their servants.]]

Set during the [[TheCavalierYears seventeenth century]], 'By The Sword Divided' follows the fortunes of the noble Lacey family, their servants and their home, Arnescote Castle, through the UsefulNotes/EnglishCivilWar and the Interregnum. Sir Martin Lacey and his household are Royalists but his eldest daughter is married to John Fletcher, a leading figure in the Parliamentary cause. Family loyalty and political allegiances are put to the test through intrigue, battle, affairs and other adventures, occasionally involving historical figures from the period.

* [[spoiler: DrivenToSuicide: Hugh, at the revelation that he is Sir Martin's bastard.]]

* TheOtherDarrin: Peter Birch replaced Tim Berierly as Lord Edward Ferrar in the second series.

* RetroactiveRecognition: Timothy Bentinck, who plays Tom, is probably now better known for playing Cliff Lawton in ''Series/TheThickOfIt''.

Set during the [[TheCavalierYears seventeenth century]], 'By The Sword Divided' follows the fortunes of the noble Lacey family, their servants and their home, Arnescote Castle, through the EnglishCivilWar and the Interregnum. Sir Martin Lacey and his household are Royalists but his eldest daughter is married to John Fletcher, a leading figure in the Parliamentary cause. Family loyalty and political allegiances are put to the test through intrigue, battle, affairs and other adventures, occasionally involving historical figures from the period.

* WorldOfHam: Some of the performances would not be out of place in {{Blackadder}} but the show is [[TropesAreNotBad no less enjoyable for it.]]

An [[HistoricalFiction historical drama]] series broadcast by the [[TheBBC BBC]] from [[TheEighties 1983 to 1985]]. It was created by John Hawkesworth, who produced [[UpstairsDownstairs a certain other sweeping historical drama about a wealthy family and their servants.]]

* GoodAdulteryBadAdultery: Anne has an affair with Major General Horton after becoming estranged from John. John blames himself for the estrangement and does not challenge them but Tom uses it as an excuse to challenge Horton to a duel.

* BadassDamsel: Anne protests strongly against Tom taking her to Arnescote, ostensibly to protect her from the deserters sacking her home. She is even less impressed when she realises that Sir Martin intends to use her as a hostage should the Parliamentarians try to attack Arnescote.

* RetroactiveRecognition: Timothy Bentinck, who plays Tom, is probably now better known for playing Cliff Lawton in TheThickOfIt.

* AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs: [[spoiler: The Parliamentarians storm and capture Arnescote in the first series.]]

* BadassBoast: Sir Martin delivers one when called upon to surrender Arnescote.

* DontMakeMeTakeMyBeltOff: Sir Martin canes Lucinda for [[ValuesDissonance running away and refusing to marry Lord Edward.]] Anne also threatens her son Martin with this.

* OfficerAndAGentleman: During the siege of Arnescote, Captain Leckie fires a gun to salute Lucinda and Edward as they return from their wedding in the chapel. [[spoiler: He then rather spoils the celebration by firing case shot over the walls, killing a defender and breaking the windows in the great hall.]]

** [[spoiler: Susan Protheroe is ''not'' happy when she discovers that Hannibal Marsh has a wife back home.]]

* GoodAdulteryBadAdultery: Anne has an affair with Major General Horton after becoming estranged from her husband, John.
** [[spoiler: Susan Protheroe is ''not'' happy when she discovers that Hannibal Marsh has a wife back home and has been using her for sex all along.]]

* GoodAdulteryBadAdultery: After becoming estranged from John, Anne has an affair with Major General Horton.

* HonorBeforeReason: When Tom discovers Royalist deserter Captain Black molesting Anne in her bedchamber Tom challenges him to a duel to protect her, even going so far as to hand Black the sword he had left outside. [[spoiler: Made even more illogical when Anne reveals that she had a pistol all along and had intended to shoot Black if necessary.]]

* HistoricalDomainCharacter: Charles I, Oliver Cromwell, Prince Rupert of the Rhine, Anthony Van Dyk and John Pym all appear.