Contra: The Counter Reformation

The Counter-Reformation was started by the German Habsburgs to role back the spread of Protestantism.

It was most succesful in Germany of all Protestant countries, which is contrary to the expected result that Protestantism would be most effective in its Germanic speaking homeland.

It must be noted that it was only the Catholic Hapsburgs, of all rulers of Protestant countries, that managed a sustained counter-reformation effort. In England there was the five year reign of Mary I, which included a lot of state violence, but then Elizabeth I, and England was firmly Protestant. I'm not as sure on counter-reformation struggles in other countries.