Armel is said to have been a Breton prince, born to the wife of King Hoel while they were living in Glamorgan in Wales in the late 5th century.

He founded the abbey of Plouarzel in Brittany and was, from there, called to attend the court of King Childebert I of Paris.

Some writers have identified Athrwys ap Meurig as a potential historical basis for King Arthur.

This identification is found at least as early as Thomas Carte's A General History of England, written in 1747.

After the battle of Camlann, Armel would have retired to his duties as a monk, and achieved his title of Saint.