Ferdinand, Prince of Schwarzenberg

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.

In 1685 he was appointed Oberhofmarschall by the Emperor and in 1688 he was accepted into the Order of the Golden Fleece.

Despite his many social works, Ferdinand increased the fortune of his house through effective administration.

Through his marriage to Maria Anna, heiress of the Counts of Sulz, he won the Landgraviate of Klettgau for his successors, which, in addition to economic advantages, also brought about an improvement in status, since it was an imperial domain.

Ferdinand married Maria Anna Countess von Sulz in 1674 and had ten children, four of whom died in childhood: