Reîtres (in German "Reiter", literally "horseman") are a heavy cavalry of Germanic origin that appeared in the 1540s. This type of cavalry appeared following the invention of the wheel gun which allowed firing in the saddle and the abandonment of the lance.
A reiter was armed with at least a pair of pistols, a sword and a dagger. They frequently wore blackened armor, their horses did not wear bards to facilitate their movements.
Both reîtres and lansquenets were widely used in France during the wars of religion by both parties.
The term reître is frequently taken in bad part, designating a person acting without manner and brutal like these soldiers there who do not hesitate to plunder and rape.