Thierry la Fronde is a French historical adventure TV series in black and white than ran from 1963 to 1966 in four seasons on the ORTF channel. It was created by writer and playwright Jean-Claude Deret.
In 1350s Sologne (a region of the kingdom of France) during the Hundred Years War, the ambitious Florent de Clouseaules (played by Jean-Claude Deret), steward of young nobleman Thierry de Janville (played by Jean-Claude Drouot), seeks revenge after Thierry's father imprisoned him for some time. Florent manipulates the enthusiastic and very patriotic Thierry into going to England and rescue King Jean II the Good, and at the same time denounces him to Edward the Black Prince and claims the Janvilles' wealth, titles and lands for himself.
Thierry is then imprisoned in his own castle. With the help of thief Jehan le Larron, he manages to escape, hides in the woods, gathers a band of loyal companions and starts resisting both Florent's rule and the English armies. He gets the moniker "Thierry la Fronde" (which translates as "Thierry the Sling") as his favorite weapon is the sling.
Thierry la Fronde provides examples of:
- Bow and Sword in Accord: Thierry is as proficient with swords as he is with slings and bows.
- Diegetic Soundtrack Usage: Bertrand whistles the theme song while pretending to be a peasant guide in episode "Les Reliques".
- Disney Villain Death: Florent falls to his death from a window as a result of moving back too much out of fear at the end of his climactic duel against Thierry in Season 2, in which he was soundly beaten.
- Evil Chancellor: Florent de Clouseaules was steward of the Janvilles until he betrayed them.
- Expy: Thierry is pretty obviously a French expy of Robin Hood, what with having Blue Blood, leading La Résistance (a band of outlaws) against The Usurper, having support from the common folk, wearing tights, being a crack shot with a ranged weapon and living hidden in the woods.
- Men of Sherwood: Thierry's loyal companions — Jehan, Bertrand, Pierre, Judas, Martin, Boucicault and Isabelle — tick very much the same boxes as Robin Hood's Merry Men.
- Pretty Boy: Thierry is young, slender, clean-shaven and overall good looking.
- Rebel Leader: Thierry leads a resistance against both Florent's theft of his lands and English claims on the kingdom of France.
- La Résistance: Thierry's gang fights against both Florent and the English.
- Suffer the Slings: Thierry's signature weapon is a sling.
- Theme Tune: The opening theme
, composed by Jacques Loussier. A fanfare that's really not shy with the brass between the soft guitar moments. There's also the song version by John William. - They Call Him "Sword": Thierry's moniker comes from his favorite weapon, a sling.
