Complex sentence: McLynn 1998, p.94 By placing him in command of the Army of Italy, Bonaparte was being assigned to an obscure front: of the Republic's thirteen principal field armies, the Italian force was the most neglected and was in terrible condition when Bonaparte arrived.
Split into simpler sentences: McLynn 1998, p.94 By placing him in command of the Army of Italy, Bonaparte was being relegated to obscurity. Of the Republic's thirteen principal field armies, the Italian force was the most neglected and was in terrible condition when Bonaparte arrived.