Complex sentence: Rather than reluctant peasant levies dragooned into service by the local lairds, the Swiss often fought as volunteer mercenaries for pay throughout Europe and were generally known as highly motivated, tough-minded soldiers, with little respect for knightly trappings.
Split into simpler sentences: Rather than reluctant peasant levies dragooned into service by the local lairds, the Swiss often fought as volunteer mercenaries for pay throughout Europe. They were generally known as highly motivated, tough-minded soldiers, with little respect for knightly trappings.