Complex sentence: After a period of European travel in his youth, a long legal battle eventually consolidated the Earl's social position, but he was careful to remain circumspect in national politics, devoting himself to administration and cultural projects, including playwriting.
Split into simpler sentences: After a period of European travel in his youth, a long legal battle eventually consolidated the Earl's social position. Nevertheless, he was careful to remain circumspect in national politics, devoting himself to administration and cultural projects, including playwriting.