During his 21 years in power, Mr Meles ruled Ethiopia with an iron fist.
His inner power base eliminated potential opponents, restricted media freedom and tightly controlled the operations of non-governmental organisations.
Thousands across the vast country were also jailed due to their differing political stands.
His ruling Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) honed the "developmental state" leadership style which restricts democratic rights and emphasises on development and the alleviation of poverty.
Mr Meles was a key western ally in the region, particularly the US in its fight against terrorism in the horn of Africa region.
He was also a key player in Somalia affairs and in the negotiations for peace between former civil war foes Sudan and South Sudan.
Mr Meles was a chief negotiator for Africa in climate change talks, chairman of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) and in the regional Intergovernmental Authority for Development (Igad) bloc.
He is credited for building a fast-growing economy (has averaged eight per cent growth for the last seven years) and huge infrastructure projects spanning road, telecoms and giant hydropower dams across the nation of 85 million.
Recently he was at the forefront of an ambitious multi-billion dollar infrastructure project that roped in Kenya and South Sudan.
His death brings both opportunity and challenges for Ethiopia and the wider eastern African region in terms of stability and democratisation.
The country is currently facing around 12 armed opposition groups include secessionist groups fronted by Ogaden and Oromo rebels, while it maintains a bitter relationship with Eritrea, which seceded peacefully.
In the short term there may be no regime change, but various political scenarios suggest Ethiopia is set to turn a new political chapter.
The ruling EPRDF coalition includes the Amhara National Democratic Movement (ANDM) created in the 1980s, the Oromo People's Democratic Front (1990) and the Southern People's Democratic Movement (SPDM) formed in 1992, all under the "supervision" of the dominant Tigrayan People's Liberation Front (TPLF), of which Mr Meles has been the long-time chairman.
Mr Meles was a Tigray, who form only about five per cent of the population, but dominate government, including in the military and intelligence.