Career
Francesco Ferdinando was the son of Alfonso d'Avalos, VI marquis of Pescara and II of Vasto. Still a child, he was named in 1536 Gran Camerlengo of the Kingdom of Naples. He was then Governor of the Duchy of Milan (1560–63) and viceroy of Sicily (1568–71), where he diminished the power of the local barons and the Deputation.