Chile was settled about 10,000 years ago by tribal people living in its valleys and its Pacific coast. Northern Chile was under Incan rule while Mapuche inhabited Central And Southern Chile until 1536. After that, the Spanish began to conquer Chile and Pedro de Valdivia founded the city of Santiago in 1941. In 1810, Chileans had fought the war of Reconquista against the Spanish. Chile declared its independence on February 12, 1818. Bernardo O' Higgins became the first leader of Independent Chile.