What is the meaning of Princely_state?

a political state, in the widest sense, which is ruled as or like a principality in the generic sense, regardless of the ruler's actual title and rank.

  1. a vassal state under the indirect rule of the British Raj, which is governed by an Indian ruler

a vassal state under the indirect rule of the British Raj, which is governed by an Indian ruler

Source: wiktionary.org