Holy Order

A holy order is an organisation of religious warriors which can be hired by a ruler of corresponding religion to fight for them. Holy orders cost piety to hire and require a monthly upkeep of a few gold. However, in a religious defensive war they have no monthly upkeep. The leader of a holy order bears a title of ducal rank, representing that order. Holy orders can be landed or unlanded, but are unplayable either way. If a holy order is in fief to a king or emperor, only that holy order's liege can hire it.

Succession Laws
Holy orders use Agnatic Open Elective succession - one of the courtiers or vassals of that holy order will become head of the order upon the death of the incumbent. Christian rulers can order their sons to "take the vows", or dedicate their lives to religious duties. If a character who shows martial aptitude is ordered to do so he may choose to join one of the holy orders. Sons who join orders in this way may end up in charge of a barony controlled by that order, or may eventually become head of that order.

List of Orders
Almost all religions in Crusader Kings II has at least one holy order, but not all holy orders are extant at the game's start, and require certain events to come into existence. These are discussed on each individual order's page. Pagan religions require reformation for their holy order to appear, and the Jewish and Zoroastrian religions require restoration of the High Priesthood for theirs to appear. Heresies do not have holy orders, but the holy orders of the parent religion can become associated with a given heresy if that heresy becomes larger than the parent.

Catholic Orthodox Miaphysite Nestorian Shia Sunni Ibadi Zoroastrian Jewish Reformed Norse Reformed Tengri Reformed West African Reformed Slavic Reformed Romuva Reformed Suomenusko Buddhist Hindu Jain Reformed Zunist Reformed Aztec
 * Knights Templar
 * Knights Hospitaller
 * Teutonic Order
 * Knights of Caltrava
 * Knights of Santiago
 * Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre
 * Order of Saint Anthony
 * Order of Saint Addai
 * Hashshashin
 * Bektashi Order
 * The Haruriyyah
 * Immortals
 * Zealots
 * Jomsvikings
 * Lords of the Sky
 * Spirit Guardians
 * Warriors of Perun
 * Chosen of Perkunas
 * Sons of Kaleva
 * Chosen of Ashoka
 * Followers of Arjuna
 * Bulls of Rishabha
 * Knights of the Sun
 * Cult of Huitzilopochtli