Sharpe (TV series)

Sharpe is a British series of historical war television dramas starring Sean Bean as Richard Sharpe, a fictional British soldier in the Napoleonic Wars. Sharpe is the hero of a number of novels by Bernard Cornwell most, though not all, of the episodes are based on the books. Produced by Celtic Films and Picture Palace Films for the ITV network, the series was shot mainly in Crimea, few in Turkey, although some filming was also done in England, Portugal and Spain.

At the beginning of the series, Richard Sharpe Sean Bean is a sergeant in the 95th Rifles serving in Portugal in 1809. When he singlehandedly saves the life of General Sir Arthur Wellesley David Troughton in the first two films, then Hugh Fraser for the following films from a group of French cavalrymen, Wellesley gives Sharpe a battlefield commission, appointing him a lieutenant. Sharpe is placed in charge of a detachment of the 95th Rifles The term used for his men, chosen men reflected the mens acknowledgment of marksmanship performance, rather than rank it granted some privileges such as avoiding certain routine duties to the chosen men. Patrick Harper Daragh OMalley eventually becomes his best friend and is promoted to sergeant and later sergeant major.Wellesley and his various spymasters, first Major Michael Hogan Brian Cox, followed by Major Nairn Michael Byrne, Major Mungo Monroe Hugh Ross and Major General Ross James Laurenson, find Sharpe to be an extremely capable and cunning officer and give him progressively more important tasks. Despite their backing, he has to fight against the strong prejudice of aristocrats who often owe their army positions to money and social connections rather than military skill against an uncouth commoner raised from the ranks. He makes a number of dangerous enemies, such as French Major Pierre Ducos Fodor Atkine and Colonel Sir Henry Simmerson Michael Cochrane, and encounters one from his prior service in India, Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill Pete Postlethwaite. However, Sharpes successes gain him steady promotion. By the end of the Napoleonic Wars, at the Battle of Waterloo, he is LieutenantColonel Sharpe. ........

Source: Wikipedia