How was the middle class viewed by the rich?

In various times throughout history, the wealthy members of many societies had a dim view of the middle class.

Many wealthy people saw the middle class as a threat to their own power & influence.

With that being said, in many societies the wealthy population tried to reduce the growing power of the middle classes by driving a wedge, so to speak, between the middle class & the peoples below the poverty line. By doing this they hoped to keep the middle class occupied with keeping their own status versus the poor.

In a summary statement, the rich had little use for the enlarging middle classes.