However, politically, the region remained quartered between the neighboring earldoms and duchies . Shires became the largest secular subdivision in England and earldoms disappeared. Cash was also raised by selling earldoms and other dignities, many created by James himself. He did not create new earls or earldoms. The two earldoms were created with different remainders. There are therefore 24 such earldoms whose holder does not hold a higher peerage. There are therefore 43 such earldoms whose holder does not hold a higher peerage. He was succeeded in the earldoms by his younger brother, the eighth Earl. Wessex was one of the four earldoms of Anglo-Danish England. Clarence also received the earldoms of Warwick and Salisbury. A similar claim to the Earldoms of Menteith and Strathearn was not pursued. The dominant kindred were the Stewarts, who came to control many of the earldoms. Stephen prepared for the Angevin invasion by creating a number of additional earldoms. Thomas continued to hold the powerful Earldoms of Lincoln and Salisbury. The heir apparent to the Earldoms is styled Lord Balgonie.