Lars B. Struwe
In the interest of the state - The use of bribes in Danish foreign policy

As one of the medium sized powers in the eighteenth century Denmark used not only direct diplomacy or military to further its political goals in its security policy. Gifts and bribes were an essential and highly used way in obtaining the political goals. From 1741 to 1766 Denmark used 998,548 rigsdaler for bribes in Sweden and Russia alone. The Danish government saw it as a necessary evil in the protection of its interests. Alongside this the state fought against bribery in Denmark among the lower civil servants, while the royal family, ministers and high ranking officials where aloud to obtain and expected gifts from foreign countries during negotiations. On the Danish payroll was Catherine the Great, who twice obtained 15,000 roubles (15,312 rigsdaler) as a "loan". During the Swedish crisis 1742-1743 Denmark used 300,000 rigsdaler trying to buy the Swedish throne.