Which admiral captured Malacca for Portugal in 1511?

Afonso de Albuquerque captured Malacca for Portugal in 1511.

As governor of Portuguese India, Albuquerque led the expedition against Malacca, a wealthy port controlling the narrow Strait of Malacca. That strait was the main maritime passage between the Indian Ocean and the trade networks of Southeast Asia, China, and the Spice Islands. Portuguese leaders believed taking the city would let them redirect or control this commerce.

The Portuguese fleet arrived in July 1511, and after renewed assaults the city fell on August 15. Sultan Mahmud Shah retreated, while Albuquerque ordered the construction of the fortress A Famosa to secure a permanent Portuguese presence. Malacca became a major base for Portugal’s Asian empire.

Tristão da Cunha and Vasco da Gama were also important Portuguese commanders, but neither led the 1511 conquest. Diogo Cão belonged to an earlier generation of exploration. Albuquerque is often described as a commander or governor rather than simply an admiral, but he is the canonical answer to who captured Malacca for Portugal.