Editing Great Paap

{{Short description|Title held by the leader of the Paap family}}

'''Great Paap''' (Dutch: ''Grote Paap'') is the title held by the head of the [[Paap family]]. The Great Paap establishes the family's long-term plans and determines how its branches should work together. The holder also directs the expansion of the family and is responsible for preserving its heritage and culture. [[Martin Paap]] has held the title since 2007.<ref name="martin-leadership"/> His son, [[Martin Paap III]], is scheduled to succeed him on 1 November 2027.<ref name="martin-iii-position"/>

== Role ==
The Great Paap has authority over matters affecting the Paap family as a whole. The holder plans how family members and branches should come together, decides how the family should develop and ensures that its traditions are passed to later generations. These duties make the Great Paap responsible for both the current direction of the family and the preservation of its identity.

== History ==
The exact date on which the title was established is unclear. Family accounts commonly place its origin between 1507 and 1527. [[Antonius Paap]] and [[Johannes Paap]] are believed to have held the position before [[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap]], although their tenures have not been documented. Martinus is the earliest known holder for whom the title is directly recorded.

Martinus intended for his son, [[Jan Paap]], to succeed him.<ref name="jan-expected"/> Jan later rejected the position and severed ties with his father, after which [[Martin Paap (father)|Martin Paap I]] assumed the title in 1944.<ref name="jan-rejection"/><ref name="martin-i"/> Martin Paap I remained Great Paap until 2007, when his son Martin Paap succeeded him and was formally elected as family leader in November of that year.<ref name="martin-leadership"/> Martin Paap III was later designated as the next Great Paap, with his succession scheduled for 1 November 2027.<ref name="martin-iii-position"/>

== Holders ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Holder
! Term
! Notes
|-
| [[Antonius Paap]]
| Dates unknown
| Believed to have been an early Great Paap.
|-
| [[Johannes Paap]]
| Dates unknown
| Believed to have preceded Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap.
|-
| [[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap]]
| Until 1944
| Earliest known documented Great Paap.
|-
| [[Martin Paap (father)|Martin Paap I]]
| 1944–2007
| Assumed the title after [[Jan Paap]] rejected the succession.<ref name="jan-rejection"/><ref name="martin-i"/>
|-
| [[Martin Paap]]
| 2007–present
| Succeeded Martin Paap I and was formally elected family leader in November 2007.<ref name="martin-leadership"/>
|}

[[Martin Paap III]] is the designated successor and is scheduled to become Great Paap on 1 November 2027.<ref name="martin-iii-position"/>

== See also ==
* [[Paap family]]
* [[Paap family members]]
* [[Jan Paap]]
* [[Martin Paap (father)|Martin Paap I]]
* [[Martin Paap III]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="jan-expected">"[[Jan Paap#Early life|Early life]]". ''Jan Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="jan-rejection">"[[Jan Paap#Military service and departure from Europe|Military service and departure from Europe]]". ''Jan Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="martin-i">''[[Martin Paap (father)]]''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="martin-leadership">"[[Martin Paap#Paap family leadership|Paap family leadership]]". ''Martin Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="martin-iii-position">"[[Martin Paap III#Family position|Family position]]". ''Martin Paap III''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
}}

[[Category:Paap family]]
[[Category:Great Paaps]]