An anecdote describes Christian IV demanding payments from passing ships by claiming that his coastal guns could destroy them. In the telling, the guns initially lacked the power he advertised. The collected dues then paid for artillery that could make the threat real. The example connects a credible military bluff with the revenue needed to acquire actual coercive power.
Notable Point · 33:09-33:31
Christian IV's coastal-gun bluff and shipping dues
A short anecdote links the threat of coastal artillery to the money needed to purchase effective guns.