Optimates and Populares, (Latin: respectively, “Best Ones,” or “Aristocrats”, and “Demagogues,” or “Populists”), two principal patrician political groups during the later Roman Republic from about 133 to 27 bc. The members of both groups belonged to the wealthier classes. The Optimates were the dominant group in the Senate. read more
The Optimates (/ ˈ ɒ p t ə m ɪ t s /; Latin: optimates, "best ones", singular optimas; also known as boni, "good men") were the traditionalist Senatorial majority of the late Roman Republic. read more
The optimates were, literally, the "best" men in Rome. They were the traditionalist Senatorial majority of Roman Republic. Optimates were the conservative faction and were in contrast with the populares. The optimates were not concerned with the good of the common man, but rather of the elite. They wished to extend the power of the Senate. read more