History Series / ByTheSwordDivided

* 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.

* BadassBookworm: Averted with John Fletcher. He is given command of a cavalry unit for Parliament but quickly realises he is a hopeless soldier.

* KnightInSourArmor: Sir Martin. He regards both King Charles and parliament as stubborn and arrogant. He laments that they have dragged England into a civil war but he still does his duty and supports the king.

* StormingTheCastle: The siege of Arnescote.

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

Set in 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.

Set during the [[TheCavalierYears seventeenth century]], 'By The Sword Divided' follows the fortunes of the noble Lacey family, their servants and their home 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.

* SweetPollyOliver: In 'A Silver Moon' Lucinda impersonates a gentleman to smuggle a shipment of silver to Oxford.

* KnightInSourArmor: Sir Martin. He regards both King Charles and parliament as stubborn and arrogant and laments that they have dragged England into a civil war but he still does his duty and supports the king.

* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: In 'This War Without an Enemy', the gentlemen meeting at Arnescote are divided into [[{{Anvilicious}} the Royalists, dressed in brightly colours, on Sir Martin's right and the Parliamentarians, dressed in sober black, on his left.]]

-> “How cruel and unnatural that sounds, put into words. The thought has caused me many sleepless nights, you may be sure. How many more devoted families throughout this land must find themselves divided by the sword?”

* SwordFight: Several times, usually involving Tom.

* BrokenBird: By the end, both Anne and Lucinda are this. [[spoiler: Anne has lost her lover Horton, Lucinda has suffered a miscarriage and both have lost their husbands.]]

* SweetPollyOliver: Lucinda impersonates a young officer in one episode.

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

* ManipulativeBitch: Susan Protheroe.

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

* ConflictingLoyalty: Constantly.

An [[HistoricalFiction historical drama]] series broadcast by the [[TheBBC BBC]] from [[TheEighties 1983 to 1985]]. Set during the [[TheCavalierYears seventeenth century]], it follows the fortunes of the noble Lacey family, their servants and their home 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.

* WarIsHell: The show does not shy away from the darker side of the war, including torture, the execution of civilians and the general misery of living through a civil war.

* PimpedOutDress: For the nobility, at least.

* OffWithHisHead: The fate of Charles I

* WarIsHell: Torture, execution of civilians, ambush and general death and misery. Merry Olde England this is not!

* HonourBeforeReason: [[spoiler: Sir Martin's response to Hannibal's call to surrender Arnescote]]

* GreatOffscreenWar: All the major battles of the wars, as well as Tom's campaigns in the Netherlands.

An [[HistoricalFiction historical drama]] series broadcast by the [[TheBBC BBC]] from [[TheEighties 1983 to 1985]]. Set during the [[TheCavalierYears seventeenth century]], it follows the fortunes of the noble Lacey family, their servants and their home through the EnglishCivilWar and the Interregnum. Sir Martin Lacey and his household are Royalists but, in the opening episode, his eldest daughter marries John Fletcher, a leading member of Parliament - hence the title.

* CareerEndingInjury: Sir Martin suffers one of these to his leg during the Battle of Edgehill

* GreatOffscreenWar: All the major battles of the wars and Royalist invasions. Averted with the Siege of Arnescote, which is covered at some length on screen.