 In historical records, the town was first mentioned in 1243 (1243 "Illswa", 1271 "Elswa", 1344 "Ilsua", 1564 "Jelssawa", 1573 "Jolssowa", 1582 "Ölch alias Ilschwa", 1594 "Oltcz", 1592 "Jelsowa, Josuach") as an important town and hammer, hosting German and Hungarian colonists.In the time it was ruled by Desiderius of the Ratoldy family, who was the founder of a new family, the Ilsvay (meaning "from Jelšava").In 1556, Jelšava was besieged by Turks, to whom it had to pay tributes.