Complex sentence: The Byzantine army caught up with the Muslims a few miles from Emesa, the leading elements of Byzantine cavalry were about to pounce upon the'retreating Muslims' when the Muslims suddenly turned and struck at the Byzantines with ferocity.
Split into simpler sentences: The Byzantine army caught up with the Muslims a few miles from Emesa. The leading elements of Byzantine cavalry were about to pounce upon the'retreating Muslims' when the Muslims suddenly turned and struck at the Byzantines with ferocity.