Greetings all,

On this day we reflect on the Emperor Julian burned his supply ships on the Tigris river before heading to the interior of Persia during his Persian Campaign on June 16th in 363 AD:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_(emperor)

His armies had won a battle at Ctesiphon, the Persian capital, but his forces were unable to mount a successful siege of the city. Not wanting to withdraw and being unwilling to leave the ships for approaching enemy forces, Julian ordered the ships burned before moving forward. This possible path of retreat was later cut off in any case and the Emperor was killed while his armies fought their way out of Persia. 

Julian likely ordered the ships burned because he was a learned historian. Alexander the Great had burned his ships when attacking Persia to make sure his men would fight harder knowing they had no escape. Military tactics aside, Julian may have thought following this successful historical example would be a good omen. 

Julian's uncle, the Emperor Constantius II had fallen ill and died while beginning a campaign against the Persians and they had remained a threat since. As Julian had secured the Western provinces while serving as Caesar, he had surely hoped to gain complete security for the Empire as a whole through victory in the East.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus