patricii
Sign in to savename given to members of the old-established upper class in ancient Rome
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Patricii were members of Rome's oldest and most privileged social class, consisting of families with ancient aristocratic roots. They held significant political and social power in the Roman Republic, which made them a dominant force in shaping the state's laws and institutions.
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Romulus and his brother, Remus, with the she-wolf. Romulus is credited with creating the patrician class.
The patricians (from Latin: patricius) were originally a group of ruling class families in ancient Rome. The distinction was highly significant in the Roman Kingdom and the early Republic, but its relevance waned after the Conflict of the Orders (494 BC to 287 BC). By the time of the late Republic and Empire, membership in the patriciate was of only nominal significance. The social structure of ancient Rome revolved around the distinction between the patricians and the plebeians. The status of patricians gave them more political power than the plebeians, but the relationship between the groups eventually caused the Conflict of the Orders. This time period resulted in changing of the social structure of ancient Rome.