In 1679 he acquired the nickname "Pestkönig" ("Plague King") in Vienna, because he was responsible on the one hand for maintaining order during the outbreak of the Great Plague of Vienna, and on the other hand for organizing the care of the sick, contributing from his own financial resources. Even during the Siege of Vienna by the Turks in 1683, Ferdinand took care of the population. In 1685 he was appointed Oberhofmarschall by the Emperor and in 1688 he was accepted into the Order of the Golden Fleece. In 1692 he finally became the Empress's Oberhofmeister.