Ferdinand was born in
Abrantes on 5 June 1507. At birth, he was made
Duke of Guarda by his father. He was also Lord of
Alfaiates,
Sabugal and
Abrantes, and Mayor of
Trancoso,
Lamego and
Marialva.
In 1530 he married
Guiomar Coutinho, 5th
Countess of Marialva and 3rd
Countess of Loulé, a rich heiress from a Portuguese noble family. The marriage was arranged by King
John III of Portugal, Ferdinand's older brother. The couple settled in Abrantes, where their two children were born: a daughter, Luisa (born in 1531), and a son, born on 1 August 1533, who died shortly after his birth.
Luisa, his only surviving child, died in October 1534. Ferdinand himself died one month later, on 7 November 1534, in Abrantes. He is buried in the Church of Saint Dominique of Abrantes. His widow, Guiomar Coutinho, died one month later, on 9 December.