Complex sentence: During his unpopular reign, Leontios (formally "Leo"), refrained from most military operations, attempting to consolidate the empire; this inactivity and defensive posture led to Abd al-Malik dispatching an expedition to take Carthage, which fell in 697.
Split into simpler sentences: During his unpopular reign, Leontios (formally "Leo") refrained from most military operations, attempting to consolidate the empire. This inactivity and defensive posture led to Abd al-Malik dispatching an expedition to take Carthage which fell in 697.