A patrician was a member of Rome’s elite, aristocratic class, traditionally descended from the city’s founding families. Patricians held most of the political, religious, and social power in early Roman history. They were typically large landowners and held important offices in the government and military.
The patrician class included powerful families like the Julii, Cornelii, and Claudii. However, over time, their exclusive privileges were challenged by the plebeians, leading to the Conflict of the Orders and the eventual political inclusion of the broader Roman populace.
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