Who is The Patrician from Storm Thief and what is their importance?

The Patrician is a shadowy figure, who appears via the panoptican. He is clad in head to toe black with a mirrored face visor and is believed to be immortal. The Patrician rules with an iron fist, abolished the other political parties and sectored the city into districts with high walls sprouting guards and gun turrets separating each district from its neighbour. He also implemented the Secret Police to bring down enemies of the state.