Widows and Orphans

[Caius Fabius]

In the 1800's camp followers in the European armies picked a new 'husband'. On the death of their current husband, they could auction themselves off, or go with a friend of the deceased or try to fend for themselves. We don't know a whole lot about what happened in antiquity, although a couple of times there were reports that some armies, (Persians before the invasion of Greece?) would kill the camp followers. I think that would make some soldiers much less willing to fight for their leaders, but ......
That may also be propaganda put about by the Greeks.

We see what happened at Alesia, where Julius Caesar refused to allow his men to take the Gallic Alesian women who were offering themselves, and instead forced them to starve to death. I wonder if there were any women in Caesar's camp, since they were being so careful of rations and supplies.

Different times and different commanders would lead to different answers. We see from some wills that the soldier could bequeath his possessions, but since he was out of the power of his paterfamilis, then would his family have any responsibility to his offspring? Again, depending on the time period, and the wishes of the people involved.