Coel

A 6th-century British (i.e. Welsh) king of Aeron (Ayrshire, Scotland) who is mentioned by Taliesin. He has two agnomens, Hen [old] and Odebog [adulterous (?), hawkwood (?)]. By long-standing popular assertion he is the original for the Old King Cole of the nursery rhyme. In popular etymology he is the eponymous founder of Colchester. Pious medieval legend asserts that he is the father of Elen (2), purported Welsh-born St Helen, mother of Constantine, 3rd-century Christian emperor.