Noun
The patrician class; the aristocracy; also, the office of patriarch.
Source: Webster's dictionaryBecause few families were admitted to the patriciate after the expulsion of the kings, while the number of plebeians continually grew, the patricians continually struggled to preserve their wealth and influence. Source: Internet
It had its own institutions (collectively called the " Frisian freedom ") and resented the imposition of the feudal system and the patriciate found in other European towns. Source: Internet
The restoration of power to the patriciate was only temporary. Source: Internet