With the Ottoman expansion into Serbia, many of the local population were converted to Islam and the nearby settlements were abandoned or reduced to very small villages with single houses. Under the Ottomans, the fortification's status once again grew, being the center of the local Wilayah of Jeleč. In 1455, the Jeleč wilayah had around one hundred settlements or colonies. Although wilayah is primarily an administrative center, Jeleč again had somewhat more of a military significance. At this time, the garrison in Jeleč was armed with cannons, and there are some documents that point that there was possibly a foundry in the town. The industry in the town was short-lived however.
