The arms of Dresden first appeared on the seal of the city in 1309.

The seal may pre-date the oldest existing documents about Dresden from the early 13th century.

The arms that depict the lion of Meissen and the pales of Landsberg have ever since been used by the city.

The lion represents the Margraviate of Meissen and the pales called the Landsberger Pfähle represent the March of Landsberg, both ruling the city of Dresden.

The coat of arms of Leipzig is very similar but has blue pales.