ABSTRACT
Gustavus III’s coup d’etat caused an immediate crisis in the Baltic, more serious than the one which had threatened its peace after the Hat victory in 1768. The guarantee of the Swedish constitution of 1720 to which Russia, Denmark and Prussia were committed was thereby activated. But both Russia and Prussia were deeply involved in Poland, where the First Partition treaty was to be implemented the following year, and Russia failed to bring an end to its war with the Turks. Denmark was in no position to act alone, and was easily persuaded to accept Gustavus III’s assurances of his peaceful intentions towards it.
