He revived, indeed, the title of Patricians, but he revived it as a personal, not as an hereditary distinction.

They yielded only to the transient superiority of the annual consuls; but they enjoyed the pre-eminence over all the great officers of state, with the most familiar access to the person of the prince.

This honorable rank was bestowed on them for life; and as they were usually favorites, and ministers who had grown old in the Imperial court, the true etymology of the word was perverted by ignorance and flattery; and the Patricians of Constantine were reverenced as the adopted Fathers of the emperor and the republic.
II.

The fortunes of the Praetorian praefects were essentially different from those of the consuls and Patricians.

The latter saw their ancient greatness evaporate in a vain title.