SO Constantine was the only Roman to succeed to the Emperorship while away from Rome, was he (July 4)? The word on the street in Birmingham, where we also have the horseless carriage, is that so did Vespasian (while in North Africa) and Trajan (while in Spain).

Mind you, the news took three months to reach Emperor Trajan. He obviously didn't have the Evening Press on the internet.

Annie Wright,

Business Innovation Centre,

Aston Science Park,

Love Lane, Birmingham.

Updated: 10:19 Wednesday, July 09, 2003