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Stefano DiMera, The Original Phoenix

The Legend of the Phoenix is a legend passed down through the generations of the DiMera family, that foretells the prophecy that the seventh son of the seventh son would never die. Stefano DiMera was the first seventh son of the seventh son. Though many of his children have also proven themselves to be able to rise from the ashes like he did.

The Family Legend[]

"I was ashes but no more... I have risen from the ashes, the one true Phoenix!"

- Stefano DiMera elaborating on his first "return from the grave" in 1984.

The Golden Age: Stefano's Reign[]

According to Stefano, he is like a Phoenix, and he will always rise from the ashes to his former glory and power. He is the seventh son of the seventh son; as a 300 year-old DiMera family legend dictates, such a son will never die. He certainly has proven this time and time again. Stefano has "died" eleven times, coming back stronger than ever each time. Stefano was thought to have finally been killed in 2016, but it's been recently revealed that the body in his grave is not him and so it is very likely that the Phoenix has risen from the ashes. On February 10, it was revealed that Shane was posing as Stefano in order to get Hope out of prison. On February 11, it is revealed that Stefano really did die when Hope shot him, and all of Stefano's activity had been orchestrated by Shane. They had replaced Stefano's body with a different one before Rafe had the DNA test ordered. As Shane watches security footage of his handy work, they see someone that resembles Stefano feeding pigeons. Steve thinks it is Shane at first, but Shane swears it wasn't him. Steve says he is sure Stefano is dead, and that is just someone who looks like him, but there is doubt in his voice, and Shane and Steve are left wondering if Stefano really is alive, immortalizing him forever like Jack the Ripper and King Arthur.

A New Era Begins: Andre's Reign[]

Stefano's son, Andre has also hinted himself to be a Phoenix like his father, for he has risen from the ashes against impossible means. To this day, Stefano DiMera still holds the title of the Phoenix, although his son Andre has referred to himself as the Phoenix throughout the years, and worn the ring himself, during Stefano's absence. With Stefano's "final death" Andre becomes the new Phoenix, and he now wears the ring proudly with the title to go with it. In February 2017, it is implied that Stefano may have risen from the grave one last time and went into hiding.

A New Phoenix: Chad's Reign[]

In 2018, Andre was murdered and laid to rest presumably for good. While Kristen may have survived what appeared to be a fatal fall, she has yet to take the title of the Phoenix. In June of 2018, Andre's widow, Kate Roberts, gave the Phoenix Ring to Chad DiMera and proclaimed him as the new Phoenix and as Stefano's true heir. However, on January 8, 2019, Chad gave up the ring as he realized he was becoming a monster and losing his sense of right and wrong.

Prodigal Daughter: Kristen's Reign[]

In November 2017, Stefano's adopted daughter Kristen revealed herself to be alive after presumably getting killed after she fell out of a window during a struggle with Marlena Evans in April 2015, indicating that she can be considered a Phoenix like her adopted father. (In addition, Kristen revealed that EJ is alive which means he can be considered a Phoenix as well.) After her swan dive in Italy, Kristen got a phoenix tattoo on her back, but it has since been removed. In October 2018, Kristen survived the warehouse fire and rose from the ashes once more. In spring 2019, she returns to Salem disguised as Nicole and tries to regain the throne at DiMera Enterprises as CEO. However, she soon moved on and became more focused on reuniting with Brady especially after she miraculously became pregnant with his child.

New Life, New Body: Cyber Stefano's Reign[]

On November 12, 2019 (November 12, 2020, thanks to the Time Jump), Gina is seen talking to man that is wearing the Phoenix ring, the man’s face isn’t seen, but she refers to him as “Steffy”, which is Gina’s nickname for Stefano. The man is also seen smoking as well as corresponding with Chad, who also tells Abigail he has been communicating with Stefano and is absolutely sure it is him. On November 26, 2019; it is revealed that Stefano has returned in Steve Johnson’s body. On December 2, 2019; it was revealed that Stefano survived being shot by Hope in 2016, but was still weakened from all of his ailments, so he had his mind transferred into Steve's body. Stefano now lives as a an artificial intelligence making him quite literally "immortal" as he was believed to be over the years. However, his reign and immortality came to an end when the chip was removed from his head and subsequently destroyed by Tony and Chad.

Prodigal Son: EJ's Reign[]

On June 9, 2021, EJ DiMera returned to Salem from Rome, Italy to be with his wife Sami Brady, where he recovered from his traumatic injuries and PTSD from the Nashville warehouse explosion in 2018 which left him badly burned and scared and his wife Sami looked after him for so many years. On June 15, 2021, EJ is reunited with brother Tony and they make up for lost time. Tony informs EJ about Jake, their newly discovered brother, which surprised EJ as he can't believe he is Stefano and Vivian's son as he doesn't have that crazy streak in him as he's just mob garage mechanic. Like Tony, he finds it outrageous on how his father's legacy is under the control of an inexperienced mob mechanic, so he proposes a coupe to Tony and Chad in order to have Jake ousted from DiMera as he finds him nothing more than a placeholder. In June 28, EJ's coupe succeeded after Kate betrayed Jake during the corporal votes and voted to remove him as CEO of the company. After a short debate on who would be running DiMera, Tony was able to convince EJ and Chad to become Co-CEOS. Despite this agreement, EJ is bent on becoming DiMera's sole CEO and thus has earned himself the title of the Phoenix despite not expressing interest in acclaiming his late father's title.

Owners of The Phoenix (Title)[]

To this day, only five people in the history of the series have taken the title of the Phoenix.

Potential Candidates of The Phoenix (Title)[]

Possessions of the "Phoenix"[]

PhoenixRing

The Phoenix Ring

  • "Phoenix Ring": The Ring was Stefano's most iconic possession. A gold ring with a black flat square on top; it is said to be the reason why Stefano keeps coming back to life. Andre also wears the ring, and it can apparently bring him back to life as well, since he is the son of the Phoenix. This was briefly contradicted in 2007 when Andre was revealed to be posing as Tony (who was assumed to be Stefano's son), and therefore was Stefano's nephew, this is corrected in 2015 when Andre was revealed to be Stefano's son, and he now wears the ring ever since Stefano's "final death" in 2016. Although despite the power of the ring to resurrect Stefano, it is said that Stefano doesn't need it to rise from the ashes. In January of 2018, Andre DiMera died. However, even though the ring was seen on Andre's hand at his funeral, it was was not buried with it with him. In June of 2018, Chad DiMera became the owner of the Phoenix Ring when Andre's widow, his sister in-law and former stepmother, (Kate Roberts) gave it to him. However, on January 8, 2019, Chad gave up the ring as he realized he was becoming a monster and losing his sense of right and wrong. On November 12, 2019 (November 12, 2020, thanks to the Time Jump); a man, that is implied to be Stefano, is seen wearing the ring. On November 26, 2019; it is revealed that Stefano has returned in Steve Johnson’s body. On December 2, 2019; it's revealed that Stefano survived being shot by Hope in 2016, but was still weakened from all of his ailments, so he had his mind implanted into the body of Steve Johnson, who now wears the ring on his finger as Stefano’s new body and so once again he rose from the ashes. He would ultimately leave the ring in an envelope to Chad along with a note, saying "it's time". Stefano's voice instructed Chad to wear the ring, which he dutifully did until Abigail freed him with a kiss and Chad took off the ring. It's current whereabouts are unknown.
  • Chess set: All the known people who have taken the title of the Phoenix like Stefano and Andre have had a passion for playing chess, and kept a chessboard that was always out and probably set up. Whenever Stefano or Andre felt they had the upper hand, they would mirror their moves with chess pieces. Stefano and Andre would often refer to the people they would use as "pawns", and for the longest time the "Queen" symbolized Marlena Evans, but Stefano and Andre would also use the "Queen" to symbolize any women that were important to their enemies. Stefano, the Original Phoenix taught his sons: Andre, EJ, and Chad and his grandson Theo to play chess and they enjoyed playing chess with each other. The "King" piece always symbolized the Phoenix; Stefano and Andre. Despite not being raised by Stefano, Stefan also has a knack for playing chess and is a known chess champion, though he's proven to be a terrible strategist in real life, a number of times. Stefano's passion for the game went on to the point where he always had a chess set wherever he went. Most notable locations were the main and room and study of the DiMera mansion. After his A.I. was transferred into Steve's body, Stefano had a chess set at his and Gina's hideout and later at the rebuilt Maison Blanche. In 2021, EJ returns and touches the chess set which he took an interest in as he cheers to his late father Stefano's portrait. Not long after, Chad replaced his father's old chess board with a new set Abigail bought for the family.
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