Yoke and arrows
The Yoke and the Bundle of Arrows (Spanish: El yugo y el haz de flechas) or the Yoke and Arrows (Spanish: El yugo y las flechas) is a badge dating back to the Spanish co-monarchy of the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. It served as the symbol of the shield of the monarchy of Ferdinand and Isabella and subsequent Catholic monarchs, representing a united Spain and the "symbol of the heroic virtues of the race".[1] It was also an allusion to the names of the monarchs: Y stood for yugo and for Ysabel (in contemporary spelling) and F stood for flechas and for Fernando. Also, the yoke referred to the legend of the Gordian knot, as did the motto Tanto monta; while the bundle of arrows alluded to the Classical moral story advising that arrows can be easily broken one by one, but are unbreakable if tied together.
![](../I/m/Personal_Badges_of_the_Catholic_Monachs.svg.png)
In end of the 19th century, the yoke and arrows became a political symbol of the Spanish socialist party. But when all socialist parties decided to have the same icon, the political party Falange adopted it.[2]
- Badge of Ferdinand II and Isabella.
- The yoke and arrows on a building in Spain.
- Flag of the Spanish Falange.
- Logo of the Spanish Falange.
- Coat of arms of Panama City
- Coat of arms of Puerto Rico
See also
References
- Wendy Parkins. Fashioning the body politic: dress, gender, citizenship. Oxford, England, UK; New York, New York, USA: Berg, 2002. Pp. 178
- Wendy Parkins. Fashioning the body politic: dress, gender, citizenship. Oxford, England, UK; New York, New York, USA: Berg, 2002. Pp. 178