Franz Julius Fras speculated, without corroborating evidence, that the castle had been built during the
First Mongol invasion of Hungary in 1241, and so doubted the sources that stated it was built by
Stjepan III Frankopan Modruški in 1450. Along with
Senj, Fras suggested the castle of Ledenice contributed greatly to the defence of
Vinodol from the Turkish invasions. ==Demographics==