Khanate or Khaganate is a political entity ruled by a Khan or Khagan. In modern Turkish, the word used is kağanlık or hanlık. 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.
After Genghis Khan established appanages for his family in the Mongol Empire during his rule (1206-1227), his sons, daughters, and grandsons inherited separate sections of the empire. The Mongol Empire and Mongolian khanates emerging from those appanages are listed below. Furthermore, the proto-Mongols also established some khanates (or khaganates) such as the Rouran Khaganate.
The Oirats established the following khanates in the 17th century: