In the 1590s the ruling branch of the Vasa dynasty was overthrown in Sweden. The deposed king represented not just the legitimate older branch but also Catholicism as well as a union with Poland. The courtiers of King Sigismund had invested energies to build credit with this half-Polish king, and this investment now turned sour as he was overthrown by his uncle, Charles IX, and previous displays of loyalty were dubious at best and traitorous at their worst. This paper will demonstrate how the realignment of courtiers shook Swedish polity. Remaining courtiers in Sweden had to quickly adapt to a new regime, while Swedish courtiers in Poland found that they had to stay with the old regime even after the country was lost. I will investigate how a number of satellite courts—the King’s step-mother, half-brother and others—may have been influential in softening the blows to courtier family fortunes.