Two crowns, two islands, one legacy
A royal family, torn apart by pride and its lustfor power, reunited by purity and passion
The islands of Adamas have been torn into two rival kingdoms:
TWO CROWNS
The Stefani diamond has been split as a symbol of their feud
TWO ISLANDS
Gorgeous Greek princes reign supreme over glamorous Aristo Smouldering sheikhs rule the
desert island of Calista
ONE LEGACY
Whoever reunites the diamonds will rule all.
Turn the page to discover more!
THE KINGDOM OF ADAMAS:
A TURBULENT HISTORY
The islands of Calista and Aristo have always been a temptation to world powers. Initially this
was because of their excellent positions for trading and the agricultural potential of Aristo’s
luscious, fertile land. The discovery of diamonds on Calista in the Middle Ages made the
kingdom a target for invaders.
The kingdom passed through the hands of many foreign powers throughout the ages. Originally
part of the Ancient Greek Empire, Adamas then came under the control of Rome from 150 BC
onwards. Following the fall of the Roman Empire approximately four hundred years later, the
islands were annexed to Byzantine control.
It was not until Richard the Lionheart seized Adamas in the twelfth century that the family of
Karedes, local island nobility, was installed on the throne. When the republic of Venice briefly
took control in the fifteenth century the Karedes dynasty continued to rule as mere figureheads.
Thereafter followed a period of struggle for the royal family. The Ottoman Empire claimed the
islands in the sixteenth century and they were forced into an exile that lasted nearly two hundred
years. When the Turks finally sold the islands to the British in 1750 the royal family was finally
reinstated but the kingdom did not gain its independence until 1921.
The death of King Christos in 1974 marked the end of the kingdom of Adamas. The islands
have functioned under separate rule ever since.
THE STEFANI DIAMOND
Diamonds have been prized since the dawn of human history for their unique qualities. The
jewels were first discovered in India in 800 BC, and brought to Europe by Alexander the Great
five hundred years later.
In 1477, Mary of Burgundy became the first known recipient of a diamond engagement ring
given to her by the Archduke Maximilian of Austria. This begins the history and tradition of
diamond engagement rings.
The Koh-i-Noor and the Hope diamonds were brought to Europe in 1631. In 1792, the Hope
Diamond was stolen from the French crown jewels during the French Revolution. In 1851, The
Koh-i-Noor diamond was re-cut to one hundred and five carats for Queen Victoria (Empress of
India). This famous diamond is part of the British Crown jewels.
In the medieval period, a beautiful pink diamond was discovered on Calista, and used in the
Karedes crown to symbolise the power of the Karedes’s rule. The jewel became known as the
Stefani (meaning: Crown) diamond. It quickly took on a deeply symbolic role in the kingdom of
Adamas. Believing that their power resided in the stone, the Karedes family vowed that it would
never leave their hands. If the jewel was lost, their kingdom would fall. The existence of this
diamond fuelled treasure-hunters’ dreams for centuries, but no other diamond of any size was
found on Calista until the 1940s.
In 1972, faced with increasing tension from his kingdom, the islands of Aristo and Calista and
with family pressure, King Christos announced that after his death the two islands would split. In
the presence of his children Anya and Aegeus, witnessed by the court, Christos declared:
“You will rule each island for the good of the people,and bring out the best in your kingdom, but my wish isthat eventually these two jewels, like the islands, will bereunited. Aristo and Calista are more successful, morebeautiful and more powerful as one nation, Adamas.”
After King Christos died in 1974, the one Stefani diamond was split into two, to form two stones
for the coronation crowns of Aristo and Calista and fulfil the ancient charter.
THE TOURIST’S GUIDE TO
ARISTO AND CALISTA
The island of Aristo
The island’s name itself means best – and it certainly lives up to that as a holiday destination!
The sunny climate and beautiful coastline have made it a favourite destination for jet-set
holidaymakers. It is an incredibly rich principality, a world-renowned financial centre and
provides tranquil luxury and a decadent party scene, complete with fabulous restaurants and
nightclubs, a golf course, a marina and a casino.
Things to see
Don’t miss the impressive Royal Palace in the centre of the island, just inland from the bay of