- "You know, Conrad, our ancestors, they were terrible people. They robbed, lied, pillaged, and killed, until one day, they found themselves noblemen. But that nobility, it never came from chivalry. It came from being tough and ruthless. Back then, to be called a "gentleman" would have been a death sentence. Not the mark of honor it is today. We are Oxfords, not rogues."
- ― Orlando to Conrad Oxford
Orlando Oxford also known as The Duke of Oxford is the main protagonist in the 2021 film The King's Man. He is portrayed by Ralph Fiennes. He was the founder of the Kingsman Agency and the original Arthur.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
- "When I was young, like you, I wanted to serve my country. But soon I began to question what right we had to take the land, riches, and the lives of people who were only defending their homeland. Every man I killed, I killed a piece of myself."
- ― Orlando Oxford to Conrad Oxford
Orlando was born in 1861, and as a young man, wanting to serve his country, he became a volunteer soldier and received the Victoria's Cross for his actions in Afghanistan. However, he realized they were invading and killing people who were just trying to defend their homeland, which caused him to swear off fighting, instead joining the Red Cross and bringing humanitarian aid to those in need.
In 1902, Orlando, his wife Emily, and their young son Conrad, visited a Second Boer War concentration camp while working for the British Red Cross. Emily was mortally wounded during a Boer sniper attack on the camp. Before dying, Emily has Orlando promise never to let their son see war again.
The Great War[]
- "You see, this war has made me realize that we cannot rely on politicians to do their job properly."
- ― Orlando Oxford
Twelve years later, Orlando, having become disillusioned with politicians and established military leaders and the way in which they dealt with domestic and international threats and injustice, decided to channel his enormous wealth and influence into combating these threats himself, and to that end, he recruited two members of his staff to aid him in his endeavours; his personal maid Polly Wilkins and his African aide-de-camp Shola. Through Wilkins, Orlando was able to forge a vast network of contacts among the serving staff of numerous aristocrats, politicians, diplomats and world leaders across Europe, supplying him with information.
His son Conrad had become determined to fight for his country and be a soldier. However, Orlando is determined to maintain his promise to Emily, and keeps Conrad at their home. Orlando later takes Conrad to the Kingsman Tailor Shop for his first suit, where he meets up with his old friend, Herbert Kitchener, and his right hand man, Morton. At the behest of Kitchener, Conrad and Orlando travel to Orlando's friend Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
In the aftermath of World War One, Orlando decided to officially establish his own private intelligence agency, and purchased controlling interest in the Kingsman Tailors company and repurposed its London branch as their primary meeting place to cover their activities and disguise their true purpose, with himself as its leader and an updated roster of members, including Shola, Polly, King George V, Archie Reid, and the United States Ambassador. As a tribute to his son, Orlando takes the code-name "Arthur" and gives his new agents code-names drawn from the Knights of the Round Table; Shola meanwhile, is given the special code-name "Merlin" and becomes the organization’s quartermaster.
Personality[]
- "Reputation is what people think of you, character is what you are."
- ― Orlando Oxford
Oxford was a nobleman who had been described as "unapologetically aristocratic." He been decorated for courage and tried to right the wrongs of the world.[1]
Abilities[]
- "My reputation is of a man not wanting to be involved, which means that my character finds it much easier to be involved unnoticed."
- ― Orlando Oxford
- Peak Human Condition: Oxford was a veteran of the British Army during the Mahdist War and was thus in top physical condition. He had good reflexes, as he was able to block the Shepherd's grenade with a nearby improvised shield.
- Expert Combatant: Oxford is trained in hand-to-hand combat and weapons. Due to his leg injury, he learned to fight well with his cane as an improvised weapon. He was also a formidable swordsman and a skilled knife-thrower.
- Expert Marksman: Oxford was proficient with handguns. During the Mahdist War, he used his sidearm in conjunction with his sword to kill two Boer soldiers.
Equipment[]
- Cane: The Duke use a cane to assist him while walking. The cane conceals a sword which is the Oxford's primary weapon.
- Knives:
- Webley .455 Mk II: Oxford carried a revolver as his service weapon in the British Army during the Mahdist War.
- Webley & Scott Metropolitan Police Model: Oxford gave his son a pistol to use against Grigori Rasputin.
- Steyr M1912: Oxford carried a pistol with an under-barrel flare launcher.
Trivia[]
- Ralph Fiennes previously stared as John Steed in the 1998 American film adaptation of The Avengers. The character of John Steed falls into the "gentleman spy" trope that the Kingsman franchise deconstructs and parodies.
- Ralph Fiennes previously stared as Gareth Mallory/M in the Daniel Craig era James Bond films. The character of M is the head of the British Secret Service which parallels Arthur being the leader of the Kingsman.
- He is also the main protagonist responsible for the famous line that says “Oxfords, not brogues”.