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illustrated by the Bavarian succession question and theWar of American Independence. In the contest betweenFrederick the Great and other German princes againstJoseph II over Bavaria (1778-79) Catherine emerged asa guarantor of the Teschen agreement. Her mediationin German politics (as distinct from German-Danishpolitics in Holstein) was a novelty and the foretaste of along period of intervention in Germany by Romanovdynastic diplomacy that lasted until Olmutz in 1850(see p. 411).In the closing stages of the War of IndependenceCatherine gave birth to the Armed Neutrality (1780), her" darling child." She arrayed Denmark, Sweden, andPrussia (followed later by other powers) in defence of thewidest interpretation of the rights of neutrals against theenforcement by Britain of her conception of maritimerights. The British government at the moment was toobeset to stand out against Catherine's demands, thoughit did not accept her principles. Subsequently Russiaproved ready to modify them as suited her, but maritimerights continued a most contentious issue. When theemperor Paul, incensed with his allies—the Austrians fortheir military obstinacy, the British for their seizure ofMalta and treatment of shipping,—broke with the secondcoalition against France and made common cause withNapoleon, he immediately resuscitated Catherine's ArmedNeutrality (1800-1), which led to Nelson's action againstCopenhagen and his destruction of the Danish fleet.Alexander frequently pressed England for " some changein its maritime code": during his period of alliance withNapoleon (1807-10) he proclaimed again the principlesof 1780 and 1800, and they continued to be the basis ofthe Russian attitude on maritime rights.A second rift between Russia and England appearedin Catherine's reign, which later was to become a dividingchasm. In her first Turkish war Catherine had beenmuch beholden, to England, who had enabled her Balticfleet to make its dramatic appearance in the AEgean (1770;cf. p. 238). But in her second she found the youngerPitt, allied with Prussia and in support of Sweden,moving further and further against her in his efforts to39 6