Complex sentence: One theory offered that Rainivoninahitriniony had intended to establish a republic in Madagascar with himself as its president; a competing and more probable theory maintained that Rainivoninahitriniony had formed an alliance with Protestant leaders who wished to see a male prince named Rasata placed on the throne.
Split into simpler sentences: One theory offered that Rainivoninahitriniony had intended to establish a republic in Madagascar with himself as its president. An alternate and more probable theory maintained that Rainivoninahitriniony had formed an alliance with Protestant leaders who wished to see a male prince named Rasata placed on the throne.