Patrician (ancient Rome)
Original ruling class of ancient Rome, distinguished from plebeians.
The patricians (from Latin *patricius*) were the original ruling-class families of ancient Rome. The divide between them and the plebeians mattered greatly during the Roman Kingdom and early Republic, but lost its force after the Conflict of the Orders, which lasted from 494 BC to 287 BC. By the late Republic and Empire, being a patrician was mostly a title with little real power. This class division shaped Roman society, giving patricians more political influence than plebeians, and the tension between the two groups sparked the Conflict of the Orders, which eventually reshaped the social order.
After the Western Empire fell, the term "patrician" survived as a high honorary rank in the Eastern Empire. In many medieval Italian republics, especially Venice and Genoa, formal patrician classes of leading families reappeared. In the Holy Roman Empire, the Grand Burgher families served a similar role. Later, "patrician" became a loose label for aristocrats and upper bourgeoisie in various countries.
**Origin** According to Livy, Romulus appointed the first hundred senators, calling them "fathers" (Latin *patres*), and their descendants formed the patrician class. Cicero tells the same story. These men gained noble status by being chosen for the Senate, which set them apart from plebeians. Some accounts say they were selected for their wisdom, fitting the idea that Rome was founded on merit. Others hold that patricians (*patricii*) were those who could name fathers—that is, members of the clans (*gentes*) whose members originally made up the entire citizen body.
Other noble families who came to Rome during the kings’ era were also admitted to the patriciate, including several from Alba Longa after Tullus Hostilius destroyed that city. The last known addition of a clan to the patriciate before the first century BC was the Claudii, who joined in 504 BC, five years after the Republic began. Scholars still debate the criteria Romulus used to pick these men, but everyone agrees the patrician-plebeian divide was central to early Roman society. This split between the noble patricians and the common plebeians existed from Rome’s founding and grew more important until the late Republic.
Being named to the Senate gave patricians noble status and more political influence than plebeians, especially in the early Republic. Patricians in Rome held a rank similar to Greek a
- field
- Social class in ancient Rome
- nationality
- Roman
- known_for
- Ruling class status, political privilege, and the Conflict of the Orders
- origin
- According to Livy, the first hundred senators appointed by Romulus were called 'fathers' (patres), and their descendants became the patrician class.
- key_period
- Roman Kingdom and early Republic, with waning relevance after 287 BC
Lore & Background
According to Livy, the first hundred men appointed senators by Romulus were referred to as 'fathers' (Latin patres), and the descendants of those men became the patrician class. This account is also described by Cicero. Some accounts detail that the one hundred men were chosen because of their wisdom, coinciding with the idea that ancient Rome was founded on a merit-based ideal. Other opinions hold that patricians were those who could point to fathers, i.e., members of the clans (gentes) whose members originally comprised the whole citizen body. Other noble families that came to Rome during the time of the kings were also admitted to the patriciate, including several who emigrated from Alba Longa after that city was destroyed by Tullus Hostilius. The last-known instance of a gens being admitted to the patriciate prior to the first century BC was when the Claudii were added in 504 BC, five years after the establishment of the Republic.
Patricians historically had more privileges and rights than plebeians. At the beginning of the Republic, only patricians could hold high political offices such as dictator, consul, and censor, and all priesthoods (such as pontifex maximus) were closed to non-patricians. There was a belief that patricians communicated better with the Roman gods, so they alone could perform sacred rites and take the auspices. Additionally, patricians had the best land in ancient Rome, allowing them better agricultural production. Livy reports that the first admission of plebeians into a priestly college happened in 300 BC with the Lex Ogulnia. By the end of the Republic, only priesthoods with limited political importance, such as the Salii, the Flamines, and the Rex Sacrorum, were filled exclusively by patricians.
During the middle and late Republic, plebeians were granted equal rights in most areas, and even greater in some. For example, only plebeians could serve as the tribune of the plebs. One of the two consulships was reserved for plebeians. Although being a patrician remained prestigious, it was of minimal practical importance. With the exception of some religious offices devoid of political power, plebeians were able to stand for all offices open to patricians. Plebeians of the senatorial class were no less wealthy than patricians at the height of the republic. Originally patrician, Publius Clodius Pulcher willingly arranged to be adopted by a plebeian family to qualify to be appointed as the tribune of the plebs.
Reader's Guide
The patrician class was central to the social and political structure of ancient Rome, particularly during the Kingdom and early Republic. Their exclusive hold on high political offices and priesthoods created a rigid hierarchy that defined Roman society. The Conflict of the Orders (494 BC to 287 BC) gradually eroded these privileges, leading to legal reforms such as the Lex Licinia Sextia of 367 BC, which allowed plebeians to hold the consulship, and the Genucian Law of 342 BC, which required at least one consul to be plebeian. By the late Republic, the distinction was largely nominal, though patrician status remained prestigious. The decline of many ancient patrician gentes accelerated due to civil wars and proscriptions, with some families surviving only through adoptions. The legacy of the patrician-plebeian distinction influenced later medieval patrician classes in Italian republics like Venice and Genoa, and the term 'patrician' became a vague term for aristocrats and higher bourgeoisie in many countries.
Did You Know?
- According to Livy, the first hundred senators appointed by Romulus were called 'fathers' (patres), and their descendants became the patrician class.
- The last-known instance of a gens being admitted to the patriciate prior to the first century BC was the Claudii in 504 BC.
- Only plebeians could serve as the tribune of the plebs, and one of the two consulships was reserved for plebeians.
- Originally patrician, Publius Clodius Pulcher arranged to be adopted by a plebeian family to qualify as tribune of the plebs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a patrician in ancient Rome?
Patricians were the hereditary ruling families of early Roman society, set apart from the common plebeians. They held the dominant share of political office and social prestige during the Roman Kingdom and the early Republic.
Where did the patrician class come from?
According to the historian Livy, Romulus appointed an original group of one hundred senators he called 'fathers' (patres), and their descendants formed the patrician lineage. This gave the class its name and its claim to a privileged, founding status in Roman society.
What powers did patricians hold over plebeians?
During the early Republic, patricians monopolized key political offices and controlled the Senate, while plebeians were largely excluded from governance. This imbalance in political privilege was the central grievance that fueled the long Conflict of the Orders.
Why is the patrician-plebeian divide important in Roman history?
The tension between these two classes drove the Conflict of the Orders, a struggle spanning from 494 BC to 287 BC that ultimately reshaped Roman law and political structure. It set the stage for a more inclusive system of governance that defined the later Republic.
What happened to the patrician class after the Republic?
By the late Republic and into the Imperial period, the patrician designation had become largely honorary, carrying little genuine political power. The class still existed as a title of prestige, but the original structural divide between patricians and plebeians had effectively dissolved.
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