Khanate

Khanate or Khaganate is a political entity ruled by a Khan or Khagan. The word is of Mongol origin. In modern Turkish, the word used is kağanlık or hanlık and in modern Azeri of the republic of Azerbaijan, xanlıq. In Mongolian the word khanlig is used, as in "Khereidiin khanlig" meaning the Khanate of the Keraites. This political entity is typical for people from the Eurasian Steppe and it can be equivalent to tribal chiefdom, principality, kingdom or even empire.