The Flashing Blade is a French television serial made in the late 1960s. It was first broadcast in the UK on BBC children's television during the 1960s, with several re-runs throughout the 1970s. The British version of twelve 22 minutes episodes was created from the original four French 75-minute episodes. The fictional story is based upon historical events during the War of the Mantuan Succession between France and Spain and its allies.