Empress Elizabeth, Peter III, and Catherine faced dynastic struggles in which outside money and agents could become useful. France valued Russia as an ally against Prussia while simultaneously competing with it for influence in Poland. Louis XV's secret network assumed that covert assistance would create loyal clients. Russian rulers could instead blame foreign agents when convenient, leaving France less a puppeteer than a disposable participant.
Notable Point · 51:36-55:42
Russian succession and the limits of French intrigue
French covert intervention in Russian and Polish politics created influence without dependable control over the rulers it helped.