Hospitaliers

[LockeCarnelia]

Is there some kind of requirements you have to fulfill in order to get them?

Can Byzantines get them?

Yeah, just need those questions answered.

[Meister Sibrand]

No hospitaliers are Catholic exclusive

[delra]

Byzantines can't get them. Only Catholics can have military orders. We've had a long argument once about Byzantine getting Holy Sepulchre Order but nothing came of it.

Basically you have to be Catholic at war with Muslims bordering you and win some crusades. Having a governor with high chivalry will help too. Stone walls are a requirement for any guild, so don't expect to get it while at wooden level.

When you are about to take the city crusade was called on, make other family members back in your homeland join the crusade (they don't even have to move), it will score you some points. Also hold the city you've crusaded on for a few turns instead of abandoning it right away. This way you will get points for being at war and bordering even if your main provinces don't border Muslim ones.

I usually send my Prince with some random other young guy to crusade (as reserve in case one of them died in Barbarossa style). This gives good traits and acillaries for my future king. And the other guy gets Grandmaster of Hospitallers job...

Also, HRE gets Teutonic Knights, Aragon has Montesa (who have AP weapons instead of swords) and Castille/Portugal have Knights of Santiago. They can't have Hospitallers/Templars.

You also can pick Templars but their chapter house doesn't provide heavy infantry. They look less badass too. So when you're offered Templars, refuse them and wait for Hospitallers (it's called St. John's Chapter House).

[Inhuman One]

you can always change the requirements by changing the descr_guilds file.