Patrician

:This is an article about the privileged class in ancient Rome. For other uses of the term, see patrician (disambiguation).

Patrician caste

In the early days of the Roman Republic, patricians formed a hereditary ruling group within the state. All magistracies were off-limits to non-patricians, who were known as plebeians. Patrician status was inherited, and intermarriage between patricians and plebeians was forbidden. Trade between patricians and plebeians was also forbidden.

Related Topics:
Roman Republic - Hereditary - Plebeians - Intermarriage

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Over time, conflict raged between the two classes, and patricians were slowly forced to relinquish their power. In 494 BC, the office of tribune was created to safeguard the interests of plebeians; no patrician could hold this office. By the 320s BC, all magistracies were open to plebeian candidates, and the importance of the distinction between patricians and plebeians began to fade. In addition, because patrician status was strictly inherited and no new patrician families were created, the number of patrician families decreased.

Related Topics:
494 BC - Tribune - 320s BC

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By the last days of the Roman Republic in the first century BC, wealthy plebeian families had long become an integral part of the Roman elite, and patrician status offered little more than prestige. This reality was made clear in 59 BC, when the patrician Publius Clodius Pulcher arranged to be adopted by a plebeian (who was a year younger than he!) so that he could stand for the office of tribune. One of the few positions that remained reserved to patricians at this time was the office of high priest, or pontifex maximus. Julius Cæsar, one of the most prominent patrician politicians of his day, held this office until his death.

Related Topics:
First century BC - 59 BC - Publius Clodius Pulcher - Pontifex maximus - Julius Cæsar

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