The Marquesas Islands are a group of volcanic islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the southern Pacific Ocean. Archaeological research suggests the islands were colonized in the 10th century AD by indigenous voyagers from West Polynesia. The Marquesas were named after the 16th century Spanish Viceroy of Peru, the Marquis of Cañete (Spanish: Marqués de Cañete) by navigator Álvaro de Mendaña, who visited them in 1595.

The Marquesas Islands constitute one of the five administrative divisions (subdivisions administratives) of French Polynesia. The capital of the Marquesas Islands’ administrative subdivision is the town of Taiohae, on the island of Nuku Hiva.  

Resource: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marquesas_Islands