BALASFYY, TOMMASO. - Hungarian theologian and polemicist. Born in Kolozsvár on 3 Dec. 1580 into a noble family, died in Pozsony on 10 March 1625. He studied in his native city, in Vienna, and in Rome, where he earned a degree in theology. He was first canon of Győr (1607), then titular bishop in Bosnia (1613), and finally residential bishop of Pécs (1622).
He wrote vigorous polemical works against Lutherans and Calvinists, defending the dogmas and rights of the Church. The principal ones are: Cespregi iskola, Mellyben a Lutheranus es Kalvinista, Pozsony 1616; De fidelitate subditorum, Vienna 1620; Apologia pro clero et aliis catholicis Hungariae, sive refutatio libelli cui titulus «Querela Hungariae», ibid. 1620; Castigatio libelli Calvinistici cui titulus «Machiavelli zatio», Strasbourg 1620; Repetitio castigationis Calvinistici Alberti Molnar, Vienna 1621; Bethleniani Noviolisensis XXV refutatio, ibid. 1621.