Vincent Bisset de Gramont (2024)

"Second chances are the refuge of men who fail."

—Marquis de Gramont to Winston^[src]

Vincent Bisset de Gramont, also known as The Marquis de Gramont, was a powerful French aristocrat and a high-ranking emissary of the High Table. Granted vast authority and resources by the twelve members of the High Table; he was bestowed the task of finding and eliminating John Wick and exacting retribution upon those who have allied themselves with John. The Marquis' main goal was to use his potential status as a spokesman and John's killer to attain a higher position for himself within the ranks of the Table. Because of this, The Marquis became John's final and most dangerous adversary. His headquarters and his own palace are located in the city of Paris. He serves as the main antagonist in John Wick: Chapter 4.

Biography[]

John Wick: Chapter 4[]

"The sand in that glass is merely an echo of my remaining patience."

—Marquis de Gramont to Winston

In the aftermath of the High Table's feud with the New York Continental, which ended with John Wick being shot by Winston Scott, the Marquis de Gramont was sent by the High Table to properly discipline Winston for his earlier defiance of them. Prior to this, Gramont had Killa Harkan, a German mob boss, kill Pyotr as part of their retribution. Summoning Winston and Charon before him, the Marquis says that John's assassination will have infinite resources thanks to the High Table. After stirring and taking an espresso, forcing both of them to wait, he chastises Winston for failing to assassinate John before depriving Winston from his managerial duties, declares him to be "excommunicado," blows down the New York Continental, and has Charon executed as punishment but chose to spare Winston in order to make a statement.

"The agreement with the Table stays the same. We give you a name, you give us a life. Or we take one."

—The Marquis to Caine

With John having recently assassinated the Elder, the Marquis turned his attention to dealing with him. Anticipating that John would seek refuge with the Osaka Continental manager Koji Shimazu, one of his few remaining allies and the only one he had full trust in, Gramont sent his forces to the Osaka Continental to search the hotel for him. The Marquis also approached the retired blind assassin Caine and threatened to have his daughter killed unless he went after John. The Marquis' forces and Caine soon arrived at the Osaka Continental, where Koji asked for them to hand over their weapons to ensure no "business" gets to be conducted on Continental grounds in accordance with the rules. When Gramont's top henchman refused, a massive brawl ensued between the High Table forces and Koji and his employees. Thanks to Koji and his employees holding the line, John was able to escape. Despite this, Gramont was pleased at the blood his agents spilled at the Osaka Continental, as it sent a message.

In Paris, aftermath of the bloodshed in Osaka, the Marquis de Gramont was seen in a classical equestrian stable, watching women performing equestrian fencing together with fellow High Table agent the Harbinger. The Harbinger said that the violence in Osaka was unnecessary, but Vincent responded that the massacre was the point and a warning of his idea to kill John. The Marquis was later approached by Mr. Nobody, a bounty hunter who had identified where John was heading and offers to give the location up in exchange for a payment of $25 million. After a bit of back and forth, the two settle on $23 million, but Gramont then stabbed Nobody's hand and demanded he pulls it away as a show of loyalty. Nobody then pursues John to Belarus and reported back to Gramont about John's precise location, but the Marquis refused to pay him unless he killed John.

"Bonne chasse!"

—The Marquis to Mr. Nobody after stabbing his hand

Following the shootout at Killa's nightclub, in which John personally killed Killa to avenge Pyotr and be inducted back into his family, John is able to issue a formal challenge to a duel to the Marquis now that he is officially a part of a High Table family. In the Louvre Museum filled with classical paintings, Winston faces the Marquis informing him that John had join the Ruska Roma family. Winston then requests that if he wins the duel, all of the High Table's expenses including his hotel will all be restored. Vincent agreed making the discussion of the rules of the duel to be held in La Tour Eiffel. Furthermore, Vincent reminds Winston that when his champion will die, so does the sponsor.

"Winston: As his second upon his victory my Excommunicado is to be lifted, my title restored, my hotel re-built and re-consecrated, all at The Table's expense.
Vincent: Of course, je suis impressionné."

—The Marquis agrees with Winston's request

On the day of the Rules of Engagement in Paris hosted by The Harbinger, John and The Marquis played a game of picking cards of which number gets the highest will win for the rules of the time, location and weapons. At the first pick for time, The Harbinger stated that the Challenged chose first so The Marquis chose sunrise and John chose now. As a result, Vincent won the first pick. The second pick which is the location, The Marquis chose Le Centre Pompidou whereas John chose Sacré-Cœur. John won at the second pick. At the third pick which is the weapons for the duel, Vincent chose blades while John picks pistols. As a result of the game, John won. After John and The Marquis decide on the terms of the duel, Gramont appointed Caine to be his representative in the fight. Caine refuses at first, but The Marquis threaten him by killing her daughter if he doesn't agree being his nomination for the duel. Therefore, Caine accepted to be his nomination. However, before the duel begins, Vincent puts a bounty out on John's head for $26 million and sent Chidi, the Myrmidons and the La Main Rouge after him to keep him from reaching the site of the duel before sunrise, which would technically mean he failed to abide by their terms and thus make Gramont the victor by default. John is nonetheless able to reach the steps of the church, only to be beaten back by the Marquis's assassins with only three minutes left to make it there. However, Caine then intervenes and helped John fight off the assassins so he can make it to the top.

With John having made it before sunrise, the duel - a gunfight with pistols - begins. With the Marquis being Caine's sponsor, he is in charge of giving the bullets to Caine. When the Marquis gives a bullet Caine, he reminds him about his daughter but Caine responded angrily to leave him.

After Caine shoots and critically wounds John, Vincent arrogantly steps in to personally finish him off with a coup de grâce. However, before the Marquis was able to shoot him, John, who had not yet fired his pistol, then shoots and kills the Marquis, making himself and Winston the winners of the duel and relieving Caine of his service to him once and for all. Despite this, as he walks down the steps, John collapsed and seemingly died from the wounds he sustained earlier by Caine under the Marquis' orders. Despite John's apparent death, the Marquis did not have the last laugh as ultimately, John died achieving his goal; to be free of the High Table and to die a free man.

Appearance[]

The Marquis Vincent de Gramont was a well-groomed tall young Frenchman, who donned glittery expensive suits. He had green piercing eyes, pale skin, and a brown fixed hair. In each scene, he wore different kinds of luxurious suits. The Marquis' character's suiting style is unusual compared to other characters in the underworld. Because this is a whole look at the fashion of men from more than a century ago. It also represents the manner in which upper-class gentlemen's traditions have been passed down through family generations. His tuxedo had a double-breasted design with his emblem as a lapel pin, a traditional detail, with a golden ring on his left hand. Furthermore, the silver and gold Pocket watch or the Albert chain is an essential accessory, clearly expressing the traditional manner of wearing a suit that was very popular during the 1900s-1920s or the transition aristocratic period from the era of wearing suits and a long-tail coat that gradually fades some features have been pared down to create a traditional three-piece suit. He wears three-piece suits with different kinds of ascots/cravats and knot ties such as a Van Wijk knot. His suits are designed with shiny glitters such as the grey and dark colors with matching knots. One such suit is a glittered dark gray suit but with a red ascot/cravat and a white long-sleeve polo. He also donned light and smooth suits such as the all white style and the crimson tuxedo with a black vest and knot. From his sleek traditional wardrobe to classy accessories such as having an equestrian stable or a long table of delectable pastries, it tells that the Marquis lives a lavish Parisian lifestyle.

Personality[]

"This Marquis is unrestrained. The Table have let him off the leash."

—Winston Scott to the Bowery King^[src]

A luxurious young nobleman, Vincent is charismatic but highly ambitious, arrogant, bloodthirsty and cruel. The Marquis is a vicious man who believes that the best way to deliver a message is to cause as much damage as possible, even if it means mass killing. It was pointed out that his purging of not one, but two Continental Hotels was entirely unnecessary. Vincent twists any deal he makes, and making a deal with him often entails self-harm. This is exemplified when he shakes Mr. Nobody's hand, only to stab it and have him demonstrate his loyalty to the Marquis by pulling his hand out of the knife, badly injuring his hand. He also shows a hypocritical trait when he tells Mr. Nobody about his big ego. He forced Caine to hunt for John Wick by blackmailing him with the life of his daughter. It is also implied that Vincent either blinded Caine or forced Caine to blind himself in exchange for his "retirement". In his first scene, he purposefully spends time with his espresso while an hourglass counts down and the two men are unsure whether they would be permitted to live or die. Then he blows up the Continental in front of Winston and Charon, then murders the concierge and spite Winston, to wipe out John Wick's legacy rather than just killing him. The scene depicts him establishing his character and realizing what kind of man he is. The Marquis also appears to have some twisted pleasure in bloodshed. This proves when he makes a disturbing trait when he just watches Mr.Nobody suffer and licks his lips in delight as Mr. Nobody takes his hand off. Vincent even shakes his hand filled with blood. Furthermore, after having Killa Harkan kill Pyotr, Vincent made the Ruska Roma pay the bill for the hit. As a result, few people that work with Vincent are truly loyal to him with Chidi being the notable exception. The Marquis determination and killing John highlights a reckless and callous disregard for the lives of others, sending his men to their premature deaths with no consideration of the bloodbath his responsible for. In addition, He has this characteristic of having a piercing gaze whoever he talks to such as John, Winston, Caine and Mr.Nobody.

"A new day is dawning. New ideas, new rules, new management."

—The Marquis to Winston

Vincent likely shows being a hedonist. He is continually indulging in life's finest things in the most indulgent way possible. He visits an art museum opened only for him, eats fancy foods, has his women perform fencing performances for him at his own horse stable, and occupies out an entire classical theater to watch a ballet performance for his entertainment alone, among other things. Not to mention the frequency with which he indulges his sadism. He seems to think very little of the traditions of the High Table and desires to change them. Only by appealing to Vincent's ego and ambition did Winston Scott get him to accept the duel John Wick challenged him to. Vincent also has no regard for the "neutral" status of the Continental, despite the fact that even High Table representatives are bound to this rule. Vincent's operatives openly refused to surrender their weapons at the Osaka Continental and threatened Koji when challenged. In response to this, Vincent simply deconsecrated the Osaka Continental, stripping it of its "neutral" status. However, his ambitions seem to be unpopular with the certain members of the High Table, with the Harbinger even warning Vincent not to let his ambition exceed his worth.

"Marquis: Kill John Wick and you'll get your money.
Mr. Nobody: That wasn't part of our deal.
Marquis: The deal was for your service. It's now a life for a life Mr. Nobody. Yours? or His?"

—Vincent de Gramont twisting his deal

Vincent is also depicted as a coward, only elevated by his authority and preferring to let others do his dirty work unless he's adamant of his control over the situation. Rather than duel with John himself, Vincent forced Caine to take his place and placed massive bounty on John's head in an effort to even keep him from reaching the duel, and even sent his own men to kill John, effectively cheating. As he receives reports of repeated failure, Vincent loses his temper, reacting violently and for the first time, being forced to keep his word about paying for someone's services after Mr. Nobody demands $40 million to kill John Wick. While Vincent previously made a deal with him, he went back on his word and threatened Mr. Nobody's life in order to make him comply, thus showing just how desperate Vincent was in the end. Only when Vincent was sure of his victory did he take Caine's place and demanded to claim the coup de grâce so he could claim all of the glory of killing John without having placed himself in danger. In his arrogance, Vincent failed to realize that John hadn't fired his gun during the last round, something that both Caine and Winston recognized, leaving himself open to be killed by John. Despite the John Wick series' exceptionally high horrific standard, the Marquis Vincent de Gramont stands out owing to his singularly sad*stic character and excessive violence, having others killed or mutilated only to make a point and willing to do any crime for the exaltation of his own ego.

"Winston: Should have been me
Marquis: Yes, but it wasn't. Now you think why that is and perhaps one of us will have benefitted from this conversation."

—Winston and Vincent de Gramont after Charon's death.

Abilities[]

"The Marquis de Gramont. Elevated only by his guarantee of killing you. All the resources of the Table are at his disposal."

—Winston Scott to John Wick^[src]

• Expert Networker: Networking is arguably The Marquis' only major skill. The Marquis operates with virtual impunity and possesses a substantial amount of power in the criminal underworld and the High Table. He employs a plethora of operatives from his Myrmidons to other contract killers he paid off. The Marquis also carried out deeds on behalf of all twelve High Table crime families and was even able to have the New York Continental Hotel destroyed and similar to The Adjudicator, he was able to deconsecrate Continental Hotels at will. Furthermore, The Marquis was also able to have Pyotr, a High Table crime family head, executed without repercussions, in addition to forcing the Ruska Roma to pay for the hit on their leader. Furthermore, during the hunt for John Wick in Paris, he contacted the WUXIA Radio DJ to broadcast John's whereabouts to all assassins in Paris and employed contract killers along with his own Myrmidons to prevent John from reaching the duel.
• Skilled Marksman: The Marquis was somewhat proficient with pistols, as he executed Charon with his sidearm and was prepared to shoot John Wick with Caine's dueling pistol.
• Multilingualism: The Marquis spoke fluent French and English, and he understood when Chidi spoke in Spanish.

Equipment[]

Weapons[]

"You are no longer New York. You are nothing. You are excommunicado. And as such, you no longer need the services of a concierge."

—The Marquis before executing Charon.

• Smith & Wesson M&P9 Shield M2.0 Performance Center: The Marquis used his sidearm to kill Charon in front of Winston to "prove a point."

"Arrêté! As your sponsor, I claim the coup de grâce. Your weapon, give it to me."

—Marquis de Gramont to Caine^[src]

• Thompson Center Arms Encore: The Marquis asked for Caine's dueling pistol in order to claim the coup de grâce. He briefly held and loaded the pistol before being killed by John Wick, who had not yet fired his pistol.

"You can pull the knife out or you can pull your hand out. One shows me a man committed only to himself, and the other, a man committed to the cause. Which one are you?"

—The Marquis testing Mr. Nobody's loyalty.

• Knife: The Marquis used a knife to maim Mr. Nobody's hand in order to test his loyalty.

Trivia[]

• During the filming of John Wick: Chapter 4, actor Bill Skarsgård portrayed the Marquis de Gramont thinking of him as someone who came from an impoverished background before rising through the High Table's ladder to achieve a high-ranking position that allows him to savor a wealth he didn't have before, hence his tendency to savor the glittery suits he wears in most of his scenes. Whether this backstory is canon or not is unknown.
• In an interview with Marko Zaror, he stated that the grey-suited enforcers who serve Chidi and the Marquis are known as "Myrmidons".
  • In Greek mythology, The Myrmidons are well-armored elite soldiers who served under the renowned warrior Achilles during the Trojan War.
• The Marquis' emblem embodied a sword, a crown, a shield and a scroll that includes a Latin phrase "Unitas Dominatio Fermitas Servitium'' which possibly translates to "Unity Domination Firmness Service". The logo is commonly seen as a lapel pin in the suits of The Marquis and his men.
• In a behind-the-scenes interview with Bill Skarsgård, he mentioned about the Marquis' wardrobe.
  • "There's a lot of black suits with black ties in this franchise and the Marquis gives it a little bit more of a sparkle I guess. It's glitter and gold so what's not to like about it.''
• As of now, the Marquis de Gramont is currently considered as one of the richest characters in the franchise.
• The House of Gramont is the name of an old French noble family whose name is related to the Château de Gramont .
• During the Paris scenario, the Marquis uses his city replica to keep track of everything what is happening. When John eliminated his henchmen at the Arc de Triomphe, a piece he knocks down at the location depicts Cerberus, an underworld watchdog from Greek mythology.

Gallery[]

Quotes[]

"Times are changing. A new day is dawning. New ideas, new rules, new management."

—Marquis de Gramont^[src]

"He is but a ghost in search of a graveyard."

—Marquis de Gramont^[src]

"Coyness is a pathetic trade. A miscalculation, in which by trying to hide our ego, we let it appear stark naked."

—Marquis de Gramont^[src]

"There are three types of men in this world. Those who have something to live for, those who have something to die for, and those who have something to kill for."

—Marquis de Gramont^[src]

"My father used to say, How you do anything is how you do everything. Called it the first and the last rule of life."

—Marquis de Gramont^[src]

"A man's second, like his sponsor, either walks out with his champion or is buried beside him."

—Marquis de Gramont^[src]

"One shows me a man committed only to himself, and the other, a man committed to the cause. Which one are you?"

—Marquis de Gramont^[src]

"We're not here because of John Wick! He is simply the face of your failures."

—Marquis de Gramont^[src]

"You come here thinking there is a way out of this world for you, Mr. Wick? There is not."

—Marquis de Gramont^[src]

"If you win, The Table will honor it's word. You will have your freedom. But you won't take it."

—Marquis de Gramont^[src]

"You know why you won't take your freedom? Hmm? Because this is who you are, who you've always been. You are a killer. An orphan we plucked from the street and honed into a knife. And it is the killing that gives you purpose. A man without purpose... is nothing."

—Marquis de Gramont^[src]

"There is no John out there. No happy husband with a normal life. There's only John Wick, the killer."

—Marquis de Gramont^[src]