Coel (Old Welsh:Coil), also calledCoel Hen (Coel the Old) andKing Cole, is a figure prominent in Welsh literature and legend since theMiddle Ages. Early Welsh tradition knew of a Coel Hen, ac. 4th-century leader inRoman orSub-Roman Britain and the progenitor of several kingly lines inYr Hen Ogledd (the Old North), a region of theBrittonic-speaking area of what is nownorthern England and southernScotland.

Later medieval legend told of a Coel, apparently derived from Coel Hen. He was said to be the father ofSaint Helena of Constantinople and through her the grandfather of Roman EmperorConstantine the Great. Although it is likely to be erroneously identifyingSaint Helen of Caernarfon.

Other similarly named characters may be confused or conflated with the Welsh Coel. The legendary "King Coel" is sometimes supposed to be the historical basis for the popular nursery rhyme "Old King Cole", but this is unlikely.^[1]

Coel's name was rendered "Coil" inOld Welsh. Rare or unique as a Welsh name, its origin has long been seen as uncertain.^[2]John T. Koch has argued that it is simply the common noun which in Modern Welsh has the formcoel, meaning "belief, credence; confidence, reliance, trust, faith" (and the secondary meaning "omen"), derived fromProto-Celtic*kaylo- "omen" and ultimately fromProto-Indo-European*keh₂ilo- "whole, healthy; blessed with good omen".^[3][4][5] In Koch's view, "these semantic and etymological aspects allow that Coil could be a legendary, or even a mythological, founder" of the dynasties that bear his name rather than a historical figure.^[6]: 77

Coel is often named as "Coel Hen",Hen being anepithet meaning "old" (i.e., "Coel the Old"). The genealogies give him an additional epithet or patronym,Godebog (Old Welsh:Guotepauc), meaning "Protector" or "Shelterer".^[7][6]: 77 His name is thus sometimes given as "Coel Godebog" or "Coel Hen Godebog".^[3] However, some of theHarleian genealogies list Godebog as Coel's father's name.^[8]Geoffrey of Monmouth rendered the name as bothCoel andCoillus in hisHistoria Regum Britanniae. Some modern authors render it as "Cole".^[9]

Coel Hen appears in theHarleian genealogies and the later pedigrees known as theBonedd Gwŷr y Gogledd (The Descent of the Men of the North) at the head of several post-Roman royal families of theHen Ogledd.^[7] His line, collectively called theCoeling, included such noted figures asUrien, king ofRheged;Gwallog, perhaps king ofElmet; the brothersGwrgi andPeredur; andClydno Eiddin, king ofEidyn orEdinburgh.^[7][10] The poemY Gododdin mentions some enmity between the "Sons of Godebog", possibly a reference to the Coiling, and the heroes who fought for theGododdin at theBattle of Catraeth.^[8][10]

As an ancestor figure, he compares toDyfnwal Hen, who is likewise attributed with founding kingly lines in the Hen Ogledd. According to Welsh tradition the region ofKyle was named for Coel, and a mound atCoylton inAyrshire was regarded as his tomb.^[11] Projections back from dated individuals suggest that Coel Hen would have lived around AD 350–420, during the time of theRoman departure from Britain.^[10] In his bookThe Age of Arthur, historianJohn Morris suggested Coel may have been the last of the RomanDuces Brittanniarum (Dukes of the Britons) who commanded the Roman army in northern Britain, and split his lands among his heirs after his death.^[12] However, Morris's book has been widely criticized.^[13] Historians such as John T. Koch and Ben Guy consider Coel to be a legendary figure rather than a historical one.^{[6]: 77 [14]}

In the twelfth century, a story arose claiming thatColchester in Essex was named after a man called Coel, who was the father ofSaint Helena, and therefore the grandfather ofConstantine the Great. Though not initially associated with Coel Hen, the two Coels began to be conflated in Welsh scholarship from the fifteenth century.^[14] The legend originated from afolk etymology indicating that Colchester was named for Coel (supposedly from "Coel" and "castrum", producing "fortress of Coel"). However, the city was actually known asColneceaster until then was dropped in around the 10th century; its name likely comes from the localRiver Colne.^[15][16]

Around the same time, a further development of this legend that King Coel of Colchester was the father of Empress Saint Helena, and therefore the grandfather of Constantine the Great, appeared inHenry of Huntingdon'sHistoria Anglorum andGeoffrey of Monmouth'sHistoria Regum Britanniae.^[17][18][19] The passages are clearly related, even using some of the same words, but it is not clear which version was first. Henry appears to have written the relevant part of theHistoria Anglorum before he knew about Geoffrey's work, leadingJ. S. P. Tatlock and other scholars to conclude that Geoffrey borrowed the passage from Henry, rather than the other way around.^[20][21] The source of the claim is unknown, but may have predated both Henry and Geoffrey. Diana Greenway proposes it came from a lost hagiography of Helena;^[20] Antonia Harbus suggests it came instead from oral tradition.^[22]

Geoffrey's largely legendaryHistoria Regum Britanniae expands upon Henry's brief mention, listing Coel as aKing of the Britons following the reign of KingAsclepiodotus.^[23] In theHistoria, Coel grows upset with Asclepiodotus's handling of theDiocletianic Persecution and begins a rebellion in his duchy of Caer Colun (Colchester). He meets Asclepiodotus in battle and kills him, thus taking the kingship of Britain upon himself. Rome, apparently, is pleased that Britain has a new king, and sends senatorConstantius Chlorus to negotiate with him. Afraid of the Romans, Coel meets Constantius and agrees to pay tribute and submit to Roman laws as long as he is allowed to retain the kingship. Constantius agrees to these terms, but Coel dies one month later.^[23] Constantius marries Coel's daughter, Helena, and crowns himself as Coel's successor. Helena subsequently gives birth to a son who becomes the Emperor Constantine the Great, giving a British pedigree to the Roman imperial line.^[24]

Local tradition came to suggest that Coel was responsible for some of the ancient buildings in Colchester; a public conduit in the High Street was named "King Coel's Pump", theBalkerne Gate in the Roman town walls was known as "King Coel's Castle" and the remains of theTemple of Claudius over whichColchester Castle was built were called "King Coel's Palace".^[25]

• Bensusan-Butt, John (2009).Essex in the Age of Enlightenment. Lulu.com.ISBN 978-1445210544.
• Bromwich, Rachel (2006).Trioedd Ynys Prydein: The Triads of the Island of Britain. University of Wales Press.ISBN 0-7083-1386-8.
• Henry of Huntingdon (1996). Greenway, Diana (ed.).Historia Anglorum: The History of the English People. Oxford University Press.ISBN 0-19-822224-6.
• Harbus, Antonina (2002).Helena of Britain in Medieval Legend. D. S. Brewer.ISBN 0859916251.
• Koch, John T. (2006).Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO.ISBN 1-85109-440-7.
• MacQuarrie, Alan (1993). "The Kings of Strathclyde : c.400 - 1018". In Grant, A.; Stringer, K (eds.).Medieval Scotland : Crown, Lordship and Community : essays presented to G.W.S.Barrow. Edinburgh University Press. pp. 1–19.ISBN 9780748611102.
• Morris, John (1973).The Age of Arthur. Weidenfeld & Nicolson.
• Opie, I.; Opie, P. (1997).The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes. Oxford University Press.
• Geoffrey of Monmouth (1966). Thorpe, Lewis (ed.).The History of the Kings of Britain. Penguin.ISBN 0-14-044170-0.

• British traditional history
• Northern Brythonic monarchs
• Cornish folklore
• 4th-century monarchs in Europe
• Diocletianic Persecution
• European people whose existence is disputed
• Medieval legends

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