Optimates and populares

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Optimates (, ; Latin for "best ones"; sing. optimas) and populares (; Latin for "supporters of the people"; sing. popularis) are labels applied to politicians, political groups, traditions, strategies, or ideologies in the late Roman Republic. It is debated as to whether Romans would have recognised an ideological content or political split in the label. Among other things, optimates have been seen as supporters of the continued authority of the senate, politicians who operated mostly in the senate, or opponents of the populares. The populares have also been seen as focusing on operating before the popular assemblies, generally in opposition to the senate, using "the populace, rather than the senate, as a means [for advantage]". References to optimates (also called boni, "good men") and populares are found among the writings of Roman authors of the 1st century BC. The distinction between the terms is most clearly established in Cicero's Pro Sestio, a speech given and published in 56 BC...

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