Reiter

A typical black and white armour worn by Schwarze Reiter in the 16th century

A Reiter's pistol (German: *Reiterpistole*) compared with an ordinary pistol

Reiter or Schwarze Reiter ("black riders", anglicized swart reiters) were a type of cavalry in 16th to 17th century Central Europe including Holy Roman Empire, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Tsardom of Russia, and others.^[1]

Contemporary to the cuirassier and lancer cavalry, they used smaller horses, for which reason they were also known as Ringerpferde (corresponding to the French Argoulets). They were originally recruited in the North German Plain, west of the Oder river at the time of the Schmalkaldic War (1546–1547).

The Reiter raised

arquebusier or in England as the harquebusier

).

In general, commanders expected Reiters to be able to engage their opponents both with firearms and with swords. In the 16th century and up to about 1620, Reiters often formed up in deep blocks and used their firearms in a

Maurice of Nassau defeated the opposing Spanish lancers and then routed the Spanish pike-and-shot infantry with a combination of pistol volleys and sword-in-hand charges.^[2]

The Reiters mostly consisted of

Regiments of the new order

).

During the late 17th century, Reiters gradually merged into generic cavalry regiments and were no longer seen as a distinct class of horsemen.

The designation Reiter did however survive until 1918 as part of the title of one of the two Saxon heavy cavalry regiments: Konigliches Sachsen Garde Reiter Regiment.[3]