Today in history it happened the assassination of Julius Caesar on March 15, 44 BC, known as the Ides of March.
A group of senators, led by Cassius and Brutus, plotted Caesar's assassination in the hope of restoring the Roman Republic and curbing its growing power.
Around noon, Caesar was stabbed in the Senate. He is said to have received 23 stab wounds. The attack occurred near the statue of Pompey, Caesar's old rival.
The conspirators believed that Caesar had become a dictator and that his death was necessary to save Rome's freedom.
His assassination sparked a series of civil wars that ultimately led to the end of the Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire under Octavian, later known as Augustus.

Today in history Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius died in 161 AD.

Antoninus Pius is known for his peaceful and stable government, being one of the few emperors who faced crises without leaving Italy. His reign is characterized by a period of prosperity in the Roman Empire.
He assumed power with the intention of continuing the policies of his predecessor, Hadrian, which helped maintain stability in the empire.
He stood out for being an indulgent and scrupulous ruler. One of his first acts was to overturn severe decisions of his predecessor, showing his focus on justice and benevolence.
Throughout his reign, Antoninus Pius made visits to various provinces of the empire to learn firsthand about the problems and needs of its citizens.

On this day it happened
the siege of Athens in 86 BC. which was a crucial event during the First Mithridatic War between the Roman Republic and the Athenian tyrant Aristion.

The Roman general Lucius Cornelius Sulla led the Roman forces in this conflict.
Sulla besieged the city of Athens, which was defended by Aristion and his allies.
After a prolonged siege, Athens was finally captured, resulting in Aristion's defeat.
The fall of Athens marked a milestone in ancient history, as it consolidated Roman power in the region and had a significant impact on Greek politics.

Caesar’s crossing of the Rubicon in 49 BCE sparked civil war, ending Senate control. After defeating Pompey, he declared himself dictator for life, centralizing power. His assassination in 44 BCE was meant to save the Republic, but it only led to more turmoil, paving the way for the Roman Empire.

While the optimates represented the patricians and senators, the popular ones relied on the lower classes.
The optimates sought to maintain the power of the Senate and preserve Roman traditions. But the popular ones promoted laws that benefited the commoners, such as the distribution of land.
The optimates believed in political unity.
Furthermore, they had greater class homogeneity and unity in their interests.
On the other hand, the popular ones opposed the optimates, because they sought to increase their influence in the senate.

Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix stood out as a dominant Roman general and political force, his legacy linked to defending the Senate’s upper echelon and preserving established control. Emerging from a weakened segment of the esteemed Cornelian clan in 138 BC, he gained prominence through battlefield successes and astute alliances, personifying the ideals of the Optimates, those resolutely dedicated to the supremacy of the senatorial aristocracy.

The Optimates means "the best" in Latin and they were a political faction that defended the interests of the senatorial oligarchy and sought to keep power in the hands of the elites.
The Optimates presented greater class cohesion and homogeneity compared to the popular ones, who were more diverse in their interests.
As they were pro-Republic, they focused on preserving the order and traditions of the republic, opposing reforms that sought to benefit the popular classes.
Known figures such as Cicero and Sulla are representative of the optimates, who played crucial roles in the politics of their time.