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Soldiers, Sailors, Rebels & Outlaws

King Coil

King Coil

King Coel (sometimes referred to as King Cole, Coel or Coilus) is a familiar name throughout ancient Celtic Britain, with references to him throughout Wales, Southern Scotland and Northern England and of course is best remembered in the nursery rhyme 'Old King Cole'. King Coil probably lived between the 4th and 5th centuries and was a King of Northern Britain exercising his power over a massive part of the country, probably with his headquarters in York. The Romans had just withdrawn from Britain at this time and it is possible that Coil was the last of their native governors or 'Duces Brittanniarum'. It is thought that his last campaign was in south west Scotland and that he met his death near Tarbolton in Ayrshire.

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