In 1600, the Chilean city of Valdivia was conquered by Dutch pirate Sebastian de Cordes. He left the city after a few months. Four decades later, in 1642, the VOC and the WIC sent a fleet of ships to Chile to take control of Valdivia and its Spanish gold mines. The expedition was conducted by Hendrik Brouwer, a Dutch general. In 1643 Brouwer conquered the Chiloé Archipelago and Valdivia. After Brouwer died on 7 August 1643, vice-general Elias Herckmans took control.