Coat of arms of Saxony

The shield "Barry of ten sable and or, a crancelin vert" deduce from the Saxon counts of Ballenstedt (in present-day Saxony-Anhalt), ancestors of the ducal House of Ascania. The Ascanian margrave Albert the Bear achieved the Saxon ducal title in 1138; when his Welf successor Henry the Lion was deposed by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa in 1180, Albert's son Bernhard, Count of Anhalt received the remaining Saxon territories around Wittenberg and Lauenburg, and the ducal title. Legend goes that when he rode in front of the emperor, at the occasion of his investiture, carrying his escutcheon with the Ballenstedt coat of arms (barry sable and or), Barbarossa took the rue wreath he wore against the heat of the sun from his head, hanging it over Bernhard's shield and thus creating the Saxonian crancelin vert.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}

From about 1260, the Duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg emerged under the Ascanian duke Albert II, who adopted the tradition of the Saxon stem duchy and especially took over the Saxon electoral dignity, against the fierce protest of his Ascanian Saxe-Lauenburg cousins but confirmed by the Golden Bull of 1356. The Saxe-Wittenberg black and golden shield already displayed the Gothic crancelin, probably symbolizing the waiver of the Lauenburg lands. As the Ascanian Electors of Saxony also held the High office of an Arch-Marshal of the Holy Roman Empire, they added the ensign Per fess sable and argent two swords in saltire gules (the swords later featuring as the trademark of the Meissen china factory) to their coat of arms. When the line became extinct in 1422, the arms and electoral dignity were adopted by the Wettin margrave Frederick IV of Meissen.

When upon the German reunification the Free State of Saxony was re-established, the coat of arms was formally confirmed in 1991:

{{quote|

The Landtag of Saxony state parliament has passed on 25 October 1991 the following law:

§ 1

(1) The lesser coat-of-arms of the Free State of Saxony shows an escutcheon bendy of nine pieces black and gold, a green rue-crown bendwise.

(2) A greater coat-of-arms of the Free State of Saxony can be determined by a special law.

§ 2

For the rendering of the coat-of-arms the patterns, which are attached to this law as appendix, are authoritative. The coloured patterns are deposited in the Main Public Record Office of Saxony.

§ 3

The regulations necessary for the implementation of this law are issued by the State Government. It can pass on this authority.

§ 4

This law comes into force the day after its proclamation.

The preceding law is executed herewith and is to be proclaimed.|Prof. Dr. Kurt Biedenkopf (Minister President), Steffen Heitmann (State Minister of Justice)|Law relating to the coat-of-arms of the Free State of Saxony of 18 November 1991, (Saxon Law and Official Gazette 1991, p. 383-385), Dresden, 18 November 1991.[https://www.fotw.info/FLAGS/de-sn_lx.html Flag Legislation (Saxony, Germany)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081122102236/https://www.fotw.info/flags/de-sn_lx.html |date=2008-11-22 }}}}

The Constitution of the Free State of Saxony adopted by the Landtag on 26 May 1992 stated the country flag displays in a ninefold partitioned field of Black and Gold a right diagonal green crancelin.{{Cite web |url=http://www.landtag.sachsen.de/de/landtag/grundlagen/86.aspx#abschnitt1 |title=Art.2 (3) |access-date=2012-12-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617113247/http://www.landtag.sachsen.de/de/landtag/grundlagen/86.aspx#abschnitt1 |archive-date=2011-06-17 |url-status=dead }}

{{gallery

|title=Previous versions

|width=160

|height=170

|noborder=yes

|File:First coat of arms of Old Saxony from Widukind.png|Black Saxon Steed, according to legend Duke Widukind's ensign for Old Saxony (700–785)

|File:Coat of arms of Lower Saxony.svg|Widukind's White Steed as ensign of the Duchy of Saxony, claimed by the House of Welf from 1361, adopted by the Electorate of Hanover

|File:Blason Maison d'Ascanie.svg|Counts of Aschersleben (Ascharia), ancestors of the House of Ascania, from about 1000

|File:Arms of the house of Anhalt (ancient).svg|Counts of Ballenstedt, ancestors of the House of Ascania, from about 1000

|File:Blason Nord-Pas-De-Calais.svg|Meissen Lion of the Wettin margraves (965–1423), beloved in the heraldic

|File:Brandenburg Wappen.svg|Red Eagle used from 1170 by the Ascanian margrave Otto I of Brandenburg, son of Albert the Bear, probably derived from a hereditary family ensign since around 900

|File:Blason Jean Ier de Saxe-Lauenbourg.svg|Saxe-Lauenburg (1296–1803; 1814–1876)

|File:Blason Jean-Georges IV de Saxe.svg|Electorate of Saxony (1356-1806) with the crossed swords of the Imperial Arch-Marshal and the green crancelin.

|File:Arms of Frederick of Saxony, Grand Master of the Teutonic Order.svg|Frederick of Saxony, 36th Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights ruled over the Teutonic bailiwicks of Thuringia (Hesse and Saxony), the Saxon County Palatinate and Meissen (1498-1510)

|File:Coat of Arms of Wettin kings of Poland.svg|Royal coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, ruled in personal union by the Saxon electors Augustus the Strong (1697–1706) and Frederick Augustus II (1734–1763)

|File:Coat of arms of Augustus III of Poland as vicar of the Holy Roman Empire.svg|Coat of arms of Elector Frederick Augustus II, King of Poland, as Imperial vicar

|File:Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of Saxony 1806-1918.svg|Kingdom of Saxony (1806–1918)

|File:Grand Coat of Arms of Duchy of Warsaw.svg|Coat of Arms of the Napoleonic Duchy of Warsaw (1807–1815), ruled in personal union by King Frederick Augustus I of Saxony

|File:Coat of Arms of Province of Saxony.svg|Prussian Province of Saxony (1816–1944)

|File:Blazon of the Saxe-Coburgo-Bragança Dinasty.svg|Saxe-Coburg and Braganza Branch, Empire of Brazil (1822-1889)

|File:Brasão do Fernando II.svg|Coat of Arms of Ferdinand II, King of Portugal

}}

{{gallery

|title=Ernestine duchies

|width=160

|height=170

|noborder=yes

|File:Blason Duché de Saxe-Weimar.svg|Saxe-Weimar (1572–1809)

|File:Shield of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.svg|Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1826–1918)

|File:Minor Shield of Saxe-Altenburg.svg|Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1680–1826)

|File:Shield of Saxe-Altenburg.svg|Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg (1602–1672; 1826–1918)

|File:Herzog Sachsen-Merseburg.jpg|Saxe-Merseburg (1657-1738)

|File:Blason Duché de Saxe-Weissenfels.svg|Saxe-Weissenfels (1656–1746)

|File:Shield of Saxe-Meiningen-Hildburghausen.svg|Saxe-Hildburghausen (1680–1826)

|File:Arms of the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach.svg|Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (1809–1918)

|File:Arms of Saxony.svg|Saxony/ Saxe-Jena (1672–1690) Saxe-Eisenach (1596–1638; 1640–1644; 1662–1809)/ Saxe-Coburg-Eisenach (1572-1596; 1633-1638)/ Saxe-Weimar (1572–1809)/ Saxe-Wittenberg (1296–1356) with the black-yellow imperial colored stripes and green crancelin

|File:Coburg-Stadthaus5.jpg|Saxe-Coburg (1596–1633; 1680–1735)

|File:Middle Arms of the Duchy of Saxe-Meinngen-Hildburghausen.svg|Saxe-Meiningen (1680–1918)

}}

{{gallery

|title=Princes of the United Kingdom

|width=160

|height=170

|noborder=yes

|File:Coat of Arms of George, Duke of York.svg|George V (as Duke of York)

|File:Coat of Arms of George, Prince of Wales (1901-1910).svg| George V (as Prince of Wales)

|File:Coat of Arms of Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, until 1917.svg| Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn

|File:Coat of Arms of Beatrice, Princess Henry of Battenberg.svg|Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom

|File:Coat of Arms of Beatrice of Edinburgh.svg|Princess Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

|File:Coat of Arms of Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse.svg|Princess Alice of the United Kingdom

|File:Coat of Arms of Alexandra of Edinburgh.svg|Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

|File:Coat of Arms of Alfred of Edinburgh.svg|Alfred, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

|File:Coat of Arms of Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.svg|Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

|File:Coat of Arms of Victoria, the Princess Royal.svg|Victoria, Princess Royal

|File:Coat of Arms of Victoria Melita of Edinburgh.svg|Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

|File:Coat of Arms of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (1841-1901).svg|Edward VII (as Prince of Wales)

|File:Coat of Arms of Maud of Wales.svg|Princess Maud of Wales

|File:Coat of Arms of Marie of Edinburgh.svg|Princess Marie of Edinburgh

|File:Coat of Arms of Mary of Teck as Princess of Wales.svg|Mary of Teck (as Princess of Wales)

|File:Coat of Arms of Louise, Duchess of Fife.svg|Louise, Princess Royal

|File:Coat of Arms of Louise, Duchess of Argyll.svg|Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll

|File:Coat of Arms of Leopold, Duke of Albany.svg|Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany

|File:Coat of Arms of Helena, Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein.svg|Princess Helena of the United Kingdom

|File:Coat of Arms of Victoria of Wales.svg|Princess Victoria of the United Kingdom

|File:Coat of Arms of Albert, Duke of Clarence and Avondale.svg|Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale

|File:Coat of Arms of Beatrice of Edinburgh.svg|Princess Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (as British Princess)

|File:Coat of Arms of Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh.svg|Alfred of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (as British Prince)

|File:Coat of Arms of Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.svg|Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

|File:Coat of Arms of Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen.svg|Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen

|File:Coat of Arms of Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, until 1917.svg|Duke of Connaught and Strathearn

}}

{{gallery

|title=Belgian royal family

|width=160

|height=170

|noborder=yes

|File:Coat of Arms of King Leopold I of Belgium.svg|King Leopold I

|File:Coat of Arms of the Count of Flanders (1837-1909).svg|Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders

|File:Coat of Arms of the King of the Belgians (1837-1921).svg|King Leopord II and Albert I

|File:Coat of Arms of the King of the Belgians.svg|King Philippe

|File:Coat of arms of the Duchess of Brabant.svg|Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant

|File:Coat of Arms of Carlota, Titular Empress of México (Order of Queen Maria Luisa).svg|Charlotte of Belgium, Empress consort of Mexico

}}

{{gallery

|title=Bulgarian royal family

|width=160

|height=170

|noborder=yes

|File:Coat of Arms of Boris III of Bulgaria 1894-1918.svg|Tsar Boris III (as Prince of Tarnovo)

|File:Personal Arms of Tsar Simeon II of Bulgaria.svg|Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (formerly Tsar Simeon II)

|File:Coat of Arms of Prince Kiril of Bulgaria.svg|Kiril of Bulgaria, Prince of Preslav

|File:Coat of Arms of Princess Eudoxia of Bulgaria.svg|Princess Eudoxia of Bulgaria

|File:Coat of Arms of Princess Nadezhda of Bulgaria.svg|Princess Nadezhda of Bulgaria

|File:Coat of Arms of Princess Marie Louise of Bourbon-Parma.svg|Princess Marie Louise of Bourbon-Parma

|File:Coat of Arms of Queen Eleanor of Bulgaria.svg|[[Eleonore Reuss of Köstritz|Queen Eleonore

of Bulgaria]]

}}

{{gallery

|title=Spanish royal family

|width=160

|height=170

|noborder=yes

|File:Coat of Arms of Maria Amalia of Saxony, Queen Consort of Spain.svg|Maria Amalia of Saxony

|File:Coat of Arms of Maria Josepha of Saxony, Queen Consort of Spain.svg|Maria Josepha Amalia of Saxony

|File:Coat of Arms of Beatrice of Edinburgh as Duchess of Galliera.svg|Princess Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
(as Spanish Infanta by marriage and Duchess Consort of Galliera)

}}

{{gallery

|title=Luxembourgish Ducal Family

|width=160

|height=170

|noborder=yes

|File:Twee wapenschilden, alliantiewapens respectant.jpg|Respectant

|File:Maurits van Oranje wapen.svg|Maurice of Nassau

}}

{{gallery

|title=Poland

|width=160

|height=170

|noborder=yes

|File:POL Chrzanów COA.svg|Chrzanów

|File:POL Piotrków Kujawski COA.svg|Piotrków Kujawski

}}

{{Gallery

|title=Formerly nazi symbol of the Free State Saxony's areal today

|width=160

|height=170

|noborder=yes

|File:Gau Saxony 1933-1945.svg|Gau Saxony (1933–1945) none real coat of arms of Saxony due the Saxon coat of arms was unsolicited for governmentHitlers Mein Kampf: "The Saxons are so strong bastardisized"... ...."We should use the new forms of our symbols to protect the meaning of our time."{{clarification needed|reason=this makes no sense|date=April 2019}}

}}

• Coat of arms of England
• Coat of arms of Portugal
• Coat of arms of Belgium
• Coat of arms of Bulgaria

{{Reflist}}

{{German coats of arms}}

Category:Saxony

Saxony

Category:Culture of Saxony

Category:Duchy of Saxony

Saxony

Saxony