Kammala jumla mai zuwa: Nikephoros an haife shi ne a 1002 ga Michael Botaneiates da matarsa, membobin dangin Botaneiates, sanannen dangin soja daga Anatolic Theme. A cewar Attaleiates, kakan Nikephoross Nikephoros da mahaifinsa Michael duka sun yi aiki a matsayin kwamandoji a karkashin Basil II () a lokacin kamfen dinsa da 'yan Georgia da danginsa.
cin nasara na Bulgaria; Attaleiates shine kawai tushen da ke ba da wannan bayanin. Attaleiates kuma ya bayyana cewa dangin Botaniati suna da alaƙa da Daular Byzantine Emperor Nicephorus II Phocas da dangin Phocas. Kusan tabbas Nikephoros yayi amfani da wannan don ƙara halal ga mulkinsa na gaba, kuma wannan ya tabbatar da Psellos, wanda ya kira Nikephoros III "Phocas" a cikin haifuwarsa na Wasikar Daular Byzantine Michael VII Doukas zuwa gare shi. A ranar da ba a sani ba, Nikephoros ya auri wata mace mai suna Vevdene, amma daga baya ya auri Maria na Alania, tsohuwar matar Michael VII. Da alama yana da aƙalla ɗa ɗaya tare da Vevdene, kamar yadda Anna Komnene ya ambaci jikansa a cikin "Alexiad". Ba a san komai game da rayuwar Nikephoross ba kafin 1053, banda cewa ya yi aiki a matsayin kwamandan a ƙarƙashin Sarkin Constantine IX Monomachos a lokacin tawayen Pecheneg na 1048<unk>1053.