He was either very young (an infant) when he succeeded his father or perhaps he was even born posthumously.
From 1014 to 1024, Leo acted as co-duke, but then he retired to Itri and left the regency to Emilia (1025).
In 1027, John gave refuge to Sergius IV, who had been forced out of Naples.
The two of them together plotted his retaking of Naples and recruited Ranulf Drengot, a Norman mercenary, to their cause.
Later, when Ranulf had realigned himself with Pandulf IV of Capua, Sergius and John's old enemy and the old captor of Naples, John was threatened by the new Lombard-Norman alliance.