Complex sentence: Alan Rufus was described by a near-contempory as "a valiant knight in his very youth", and historian K. S. B. Keats-Rohan speculates that he joined William's household before 1066 and was probably present at the Battle of Hastings.
Split into simpler sentences: Alan Rufus was described by a near-contempory as "in his very youth, a valiant knight". Historian Katherine Keats-Rohan speculates that he joined William's household before 1066 and was probably present at the Battle of Hastings.