patriciate

1. Nobility or aristocracy.
2. The rank, position, or term of office of a patrician.

[Latin patriciātus, from patricius, patrician. See patrician.]

noun

People of the highest social level: aristocracy, blue blood, crème de la crème, elite, flower, gentility, gentry, nobility, quality, society, upper class, who's who. Informal upper crust. See over/under.