Francisco de Albuquerque was a Portuguese nobleman who served as the Viceroy of India from 1509 to 1515. He was a renowned military leader and administrator, known for his conquests and his efforts to establish Portuguese trade routes in the East.
The city was founded in 1706 by Francisco Cuervo y Valdés, a Spanish governor of the region, who named it after the Duke of Albuquerque in honor of his military achievements and contributions to Portugal.
The name "Albuquerque" itself is of Arabic origin, meaning "the strong one" or "the valiant one".