Wessex was the kingdom of Alfred the Great who reconquered lands held by Danes and united England in the 9th century. Wessex maintained the stature as most important earldom in England until the fall of Anglo-Saxon rule in 1066.
Godwin became Earl of Wessex under the Danish king Canute. Not surprising, then, that Wessex supported the Danish line as much as possible over the years. Godwin was able to get King Edward to marry his daughter Edith, so that one day a grandson of his might rule England. Upon his death, his son Harold took over as Earl of Wessex. By 1065, Tostig Godwinsson was made Earl of Northumbria, Gyrth Godwinsson was Earl of East Anglia, and Leofwine Godwinsson was Earl of Kent. The Godwin family clearly dominated England, with Harold watching over them all.