The highest social class was the patriciate, the aristocracy.

Donald E. Queller has written:

'The office of ambassador in the Middle Ages' -- subject(s): Ambassadors, History, Middle Ages

'The Fourth Crusade' -- subject(s): Crusades, History

'The Venetian patriciate' -- subject(s): History, Social conditions, Nobility

In the Early Republic the patrician aristocracy monopolised political power. The plebeians were all non-patricians; that is, the commoners, both rich and poor. The rich plebeians fought for power-sharing and succeeded after a 200-year-old struggle which has been called the Conflict of the Orders (between patricians and plebeians). They gained access to the offices of state, the senate and some of the priesthoods which all had been patrician preserves. They were co-opted into a patrician-plebeian oligarchy. They were given equestrian (cavalryman) status. The equestrian order was the lower tier of the aristocracy. The higher tier was the patriciate. Thus, the rich plebeians became part of the nobility and the term plebeian with regard to them become redundant.

The situation of the poor plebeians was different. The poor just remained the poor. They did not have access to high political positions.

The patricians were originally the rich land owning class of Romans.

The patricians were originally the rich land owning class of Romans.

The patricians were originally the rich land owning class of Romans.

The patricians were originally the rich land owning class of Romans.

The patricians were originally the rich land owning class of Romans.

The patricians were originally the rich land owning class of Romans.

The patricians were originally the rich land owning class of Romans.

The patricians were originally the rich land owning class of Romans.

The patricians were originally the rich land owning class of Romans.