The House of Wessex was the family that ruled southwest England, known as Wessex, from the 6th century under Cerdic of Wessex until the unification of the Kingdoms of England by Alfred the Great and his successors.  Cerdic claimed a mythical descent from Woden.  Cerdic was a Saxon who landed in Hampshire in 495 and fought with the Britons becoming the first King of Wessex.  His family ruled England for over two hundred years.