Complex sentence: From 1184 until 1654 the City of Besançon was a free imperial city run by the Archbishop of Besançon, although later most of this power would be taken by a council within the town.
Split into simpler sentences: From 1184 until 1654 the City of Besançon was a free imperial city. At first it was run by the Archbishop of Besançon, although later most of this power would be taken by a council within the town.