Complex sentence: Nikephoros III intended to leave the throne to one of his close relatives, Finlay, pg.59 and this resulted in Maria's ambivalence and alliance with the Komnenoi, though the real driving force behind this political alliance was Anna Dalassene.
Split into simpler sentences: Nikephoros III intended to leave the throne to one of his close relatives, Finlay, pg.59 and this resulted in Maria's ambivalence and alliance with the Komnenoi. The real driving force behind this political alliance was Anna Dalassene.