What is a Patrician in Ancient Rome?

This is a statue of a Roman senator in a toga, which represented upper class status. The material, laundering, and impracticality of the toga indicated status and national identity.

The patricians were members of the privileged ruling class families in Ancient Rome. They were distinguished from the plebeians, who had less power and wealth. The patricians were composed of the ruling elite and families who served in the Roman Senate. Succession to the throne or title of emperor was dangerous and often involved being connected to influential people and rallying support from senators and political factions. In the battle for power, members of the patricians could lose their lives, property, or prestige. The patrician males received a quality education in literature, history, geography, mythology, and languages. Members of the patrician class were excused from performing most military duties.

The divide between the patricians and the plebeians was harsh, and upward social movement in Ancient Rome was difficult to accomplish. The patricians filled roles of magistrates, priesthood, and judicial positions with other patrician members, causing members of the plebeians to protest and rebel against the patricians. In the early republic, only patricians could become consuls (the highest office), legislators, or priests. The main opportunity that was open to the plebeians was through the military. Many plebeians were also farmers and laborers. For a time, plebeians were disallowed from marrying into patrician families.

The Conflict of the Orders

In contrast to the patrician class, the plebeian class was less wealthy and could not afford lavish articles of clothing such as the toga.

While the patricians enjoyed high status and privileges in the early Roman Empire, the patrician class slowly began to lose power as time passed. Julius Caesar created a new patrician class from plebeian members in an attempt to increase his power, which led to many patrician members being ousted from power and influence. Additionally, Augustus named new patrician members from the plebeian class to maintain loyalty from his constituents.

After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the term "patrician" was still used in the Byzantine Empire and the Republic of Venice to refer to a highly honorable member of society. The idea of the patrician class continued to exist in these places.

The patricians in Ancient Rome were the ruling class that often held positions of priests, senators, legislators, or a consul. According to legend, Romulus created the patrician class by choosing 100 men to lead Rome. The descendants of these men were said to be members of the patrician class in Ancient Rome. During the early republic, plebeians were not allowed into any of these roles but could work in the military. The Tribunus Plebis, or People's Tribune, was important to the patricians because the office kept the plebeians in Rome. The office was the only motivation and protection that kept the plebeians in Rome. It protected the poor, had the power to veto the consuls, and could present laws.

The Conflict of the Orders was a class dispute between the plebeians (lower class) and patricians (upper class) where the plebeians demanded equal political rights in society. After the Conflict of the Orders, the patricians released some of their power and some plebeian families were allowed into the patrician class. The Comitia Centuriate included three houses.