Complex sentence: Although Louis XIV's direct descendants retained the throne, his brother Philippe's descendants flourished until the end of the French monarchy, held the crown from 1830 to 1848, and still exist as pretenders.
Split into simpler sentences: Although Louis XIV's direct descendants retained the throne, his brother Philippe's descendants flourished until the end of the French monarchy. They held the Crown from 1830 to 1848, and still exist as pretenders.