Question

what was the role of anne of austria and cardinal mazarin when louis xiv first became king?
why were common people hungry and impoverished at the beginning of louis xiv’s reign?

Explanation:

For the first question: Louis XIV was only 4 years old when he became king, so his mother Anne of Austria stepped into the regent role. Cardinal Mazarin, a trusted statesman, was her key partner, managing the day-to-day governance and quelling rebellions like the Fronde to keep royal authority intact.
For the second question: The prior wars had devastated French agriculture and the economy. The monarchy's need for funds for warfare and luxury led to unfair, heavy taxes on the lower classes, who also faced failed harvests that worsened food insecurity and poverty.

Answer:

1. Anne of Austria served as regent for the underage Louis XIV, governing the kingdom on his behalf, while Cardinal Mazarin acted as her chief advisor, handling state affairs, foreign policy, and suppressing domestic uprisings to stabilize the monarchy.
2. Common people were hungry and impoverished due to decades of war (including the Thirty Years' War and Fronde revolts) that destroyed crops and livelihoods, heavy taxation to fund the monarchy's wars and lavish court spending, and poor harvests that led to food shortages and high grain prices.