Optimates and Populares
Cicero’s belief of his segregation of Roman senators into two categories - the Optimates and the Populares became widely excepted . This categorisation was a biased formula created by Cicero to determine political alliances and points of view. The Populares were senators who appealed to the masses, and wanted to win over the support and popularity of the people in order to increase their standings in political office. This is shown by Cicero in his Pro Setstio speech in 56 BC when he certifies that, “Those who made it their object to do and say what was agreeable to the people were thought of as Populares…” (Cicero, cited in Bradley, 1990)
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This was very different the point of view shown by the Optimates, who were seen as the ‘best men’, the conservatives who attempted to hold up traditional senatorial views of prestige and power, as Cicero, an optimate himself, increased his own self importance, by stating in the same Pro Setstio speech asserted that, “…the Optimates were those who acted in such a way as to make their policies acceptable to all the best citizens… [they] are classed among our most important and distinguished citizens, as leaders of the state.” (Cicero, cited in Bradley, 1990) Lily Ross Taylor, an American academic and author with a PhD in Latin confirmed Cicero’s views claiming that, “… the optimates, more often described simply as… the good men… bent on upholding the status quo, the rights of private property, and most particularly the prestige of the senate.” (Taylor, 1971)
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This was very different the point of view shown by the Optimates, who were seen as the ‘best men’, the conservatives who attempted to hold up traditional senatorial views of prestige and power, as Cicero, an optimate himself, increased his own self importance, by stating in the same Pro Setstio speech asserted that, “…the Optimates were those who acted in such a way as to make their policies acceptable to all the best citizens… [they] are classed among our most important and distinguished citizens, as leaders of the state.” (Cicero, cited in Bradley, 1990) Lily Ross Taylor, an American academic and author with a PhD in Latin confirmed Cicero’s views claiming that, “… the optimates, more often described simply as… the good men… bent on upholding the status quo, the rights of private property, and most particularly the prestige of the senate.” (Taylor, 1971)
Political Support between Optimates and Populares shown below!
Cicero believed himself to be an Optimate, constantly referring to them, and himself as one in his letters and historical sources, as he viewed the Populares as a threat to the order of the senate.
Sources
Bradley, P., 1990. Ancient Rome Using Evidence. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.
Tatum, W. J., 1999. The Patrician Tribune Publius Clodius Pulcher. New York: University of North Carolina Press.
Taylor, L. R., 1971. Party Politics in the Age of Caesar. California: University of California Press.
Tatum, W. J., 1999. The Patrician Tribune Publius Clodius Pulcher. New York: University of North Carolina Press.
Taylor, L. R., 1971. Party Politics in the Age of Caesar. California: University of California Press.