THE END OF THE RUSSIAN PROTECTORATE 393more than they deserved. Had she not guaranteed their 'Golden Freedom'? Had
she not championed the cause of religious toleration? Had she not suffered
enough insults from dangerous Republicans and upstart bishops? Catherine,
flattered by the neatness of Frederick's solution, but still humiliated by the fail-
ure of her original scheme, gradually surrendered to his prompting. If she did
not yield to Frederick's proposals, she had to face the prospect of Prussia join-
ing Austria and Turkey in a grand coalition against her.
Surprisingly enough, the blows which finally broke down Catherine's reluc-
tance were struck by the Austrians, and in particular by Maria Theresa's astute
adviser, Kaunitz, who showed remarkable ability in serving his mistress's
advantage. In 1769, profiting by the Republic's preoccupations, Austrian troops
marched into Spisz and annexed it, 'ad damnum evitandum'. In 1770 they
marched on to Nowy Targ and Nowy Sacz, which were also annexed. Noises
were made in protest against Russian activities in Poland, and in 1771 Austria
joined her traditional Turkish enemy in a secret alliance against Russia. It was
just what Frederick needed. He was now able to argue that the Republic's
weakness had reached the point where it was threatening international stability,
and where a legal Partition was necessary to put an end to arbitrary annexa-
tions. His brother, Prince Henry of Prussia, had visited St. Petersburg in the
autumn of 1770 and pressed these arguments. They proved conclusive. In June
1771, a Partition of Poland was agreed in principle between Prussia and Russia.
In February, 1772, after a decent hesitation, Maria Theresa accepted the invita-
tion to partake. All was settled bar the details.
The sharing of the spoils exercised the minds of the diplomats for barely five
months. Frederick, as instigator of the exercise, modestly helped himself to
Royal Prussia, Kujawy, and Chehnno. His abstinence from Danzig was proof of
his moderation. Catherine, confined herself to Polish Livonia, and to the coun-
ties of Polotsk, Witebsk, Mscislaw, and Homel. She confirmed her control over
Courland. But Maria Theresa, having dallied the longest, could afford to raise
her price the highest. Kaunitz insisted on the larger part of southern Malopol-
ska, from Biala on the Silesian border in the west to the Turkish frontier on the
Dniester in the east. In the final reckoning, Prussia took 5 per cent of the
Republic's territory and a mere 580,000 of its citizens; Russia took 12.7 per cent
of the territory and 1,300,000 people; Austria, received only 11.8 per cent of the
territory, but no less than 2,130,000 souls. (See Diagram M.) The bad con-
sciences of the partitioners had been nicely measured. The Treaty of Partition
was signed in St. Petersburg on 25 July/5 August (Julian/Gregorian calendar)
1772.^12 Its preamble stated the reasons:
In the Name of the Most Holy Trinity! The spirit of faction, the troubles and intestine
war which had shaken the Kingdom of Poland for so many years, and the Anarchy
which acquires new strength every day ... give just apprehension for expecting the total
decomposition of the state ... at the same time, the Powers neighbouring on the
Republic are burdened with rights and claims which are as ancient as they are legiti-
mate ...