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Who was Old King Cole?
The origins of the
Nursery rhyme lyrics of Old
King Cole are based in
history dating back to 3rd
century. There is
considerable confusion
regarding the origins of Old
King Cole as there are three
possible contenders who were
Celtic Kings of Britain, all
who share the name Coel
(which is the Celtic word
for the English word Cole).
Historia Regum Britanniae
(History of the Kings of
Britain) by Geoffrey of
Monmouth (1110-1155) refers
to a King Cole as a king of
the Britons. Our research
details the contenders as
follows:
Coel Godhebog (Cole
the Magnificent - b.220
Decurion of Rome)
Coel Godhebog was
the Lord of Colchester
(the word Colchester
means "Cole's Castle").
The Romans had conquered
Britain during this
period and Coel Godhebog
was a Decurion meaning
member of the municipal
Senate in Ancient Rome
who ran a local
government. Gaius
Flavius Valerius
Constantius (250–306)
was an Emperor of the
Western Roman Empire
(305-306). According to
the Historia Regum
Britanniae Constantius
was sent to Britain in
296AD. where his liaison
with Helena, apparently
the daughter of Coel
Godhebog, produced a son
who became Constantine
the Great.
Coel Hen ( Coel
the Old c.350 -
c.420 )
Coel Hen, called
Coel the Old due to
his longevity, was
also the Lord of
Colchester and a
Decurion. This was
the time of the
Decline of the Roman
Empire and the
Romans officials
abandoned Britain
and returned to
Italy which was
under attack by the
Goths. Coel Hen was
therefore believed
to be the last
Decurion. This man
is probably the main
contender as 'Old
King Cole' due to
the name he was
given - Coel the
Old.
St. Ceneu ap Coel
( Born c382 )
St. Ceneu ap Coel
was the son of Coel
Hen. Ceneu appears
to have been made a
Saint because he
upheld the old
Christian ways
against pagan
invaders.
He used Saxon
mercenaries to help with
this quest. He was named in
the Historia Regum
Britanniae as attending the
coronation of King Arthur
who became the 'One King' of
the Britons.
The Origins
The History of the Ancient
Britons is being reflected
in the origins of Old King
Cole encompassing the times
of the Celts, the Romans,
the Saxons and King Arthur.
The Tudor dynasty, starting
with King Henry VII, claimed
to descend from Old King
Cole's royal lineage in
attempt to further
legitimise the Royal House
of Tudor's claim to the
English throne. One of the
main sources of information
regarding the Ancient
Britons is taken from the
works by Geoffrey of
Monmouth. But Geoffrey lived
many years later in the
1100's and much of his
history on the pre-Saxon
kings of Britain is based on
Celtic legends - thus adding
to the confusion regarding
the origins of Old King
Cole! Click here for more
information about the
History of the Celts
http://www.flags-flags-flags.org.uk/welsh-flag.htm
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