His father could have been either Murvan Jaqeli[1] of an inscription from the Agara monastery, near Akhaltsikhe, or Memna, mentioned by Stepanos Orbelian as a participant of the 1178 revolt against George III of Georgia.
[1] Botso's possible sister,[1][4] Kravay, was married to the nobleman Samdzivari and was responsible for negotiating the surrender of Qutlu Arslan's rebellious party to Queen Tamar.
[4] Botso Jaqeli appears as eristavi ("duke") and spasalar ("constable") of Samtskhe, an important frontier region in southwest Georgia, in the reign of Queen Regnant Tamar.
Around 1187, Botso, together with Guzan, duke of Tao, repelled an attack from Saltukid Erzurum and Sham into the provinces of Shavsheti and Klarjeti.
[5] Around 1191, Botso joined the likes as Vardan Dadiani and Guzan of Tao in a failed coup in favor of Tamar's disgraced husband, George the Rus'.