Despite his age, the fact that he had only been in the Navy for four years, and his lack of experience in battle or command on the high seas, Ferdinand Max proved to be among the most effective and successful commanders of the Austrian Navy in history. He was described by Lawrence Sondhaus in his book "The Habsburg Empire and the Sea: Austrian Naval Policy, 1797–1866" as "the most gifted leader the navy had ever had, or ever would have". Anthony Sokol describes Ferdinand Max in his book "The Imperial and Royal Austro-Hungarian Navy" as "one of the most talented of the Habsburg princes...He used his prestige, youthful enthusiasm, and love of the Service to promote it in every way possible."