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Deutsche Wappen (Gemeindewappen/Kreiswappen) German Civic Heraldry

SACHSEN

Origin/meaning:
The arms of the present State were officially adopted in 1991.

The background of the arms, the bars, are based on the arms of the Ballenstadt family. In 1170 Bernhard, Count of Ballenstedt asked the Emperor for the title and rights of the Dukes of Sachsen, as the former Duke, Heinrich the lion, was killed. He succeeded partly, but his eldest son Heinrich I of Sachsen finally acquired all the territory. Bernhard was also the first one to use the arms with the bars. The crown-ring on the bars is known since 1260 in the seals of Albrecht II and his brother Johann. Their father did not use the ring. The meaning or origin of the ring is not known, although several explanations exist.

The original Duchy was later raised to a Kingdom, that used the same arms. The original territory in the meantime was divided in many different territories, all of which used the old Sachsen arms in their arms, see Sachsen-Weimar, Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha, Sachsen-Meiningen, Sachsen-Altenburg and Anhalt.

The arms of the Kingdom of Sachsen

The large arms of the Kingdom, or the arms used by the Kings themselves, were much more complicated, showing 12 fields and an escutcheon :

The great arms of the Kingdom and Kings of Sachsen

In the 19^th century the Western part of Sachsen became part of Preussen as the Province of Sachsen. The arms as such were initially not changed, except that the supporters were replaced by the Prussian supporters. The later small arms of the province, however, showed the old arms, but the Prussian eagle in the chief.

The great arms of the Prussian province of Sachsen.

The small arms of the Prussian province of Sachsen.

When Sachsen was restored as a German State the old arms were also restored.

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