The coat of arms of Leipzig dates back to the 14th century and is based on the Wettin shield of Meissen. It had the lion from the start and to it was added a second field with blue pales around 1475. These are called the Landsberger Pfähle, for Leipzig was under Mark Landsberg, Margraviate of Landsberg.

This article relies excessively on references to primary sources. (February 2014)

Only the city may use the arms, as it is the right of it as the right of its name according to German law.^[1]

The coat of arms of Chemnitz is very similar.