 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.