Peter the Great Prison Settlements / Katorga

[rasshiva]

I would be very grateful if anyone could point me at a map / description of where there were if any prison settlements (Katorga?) at the time of Peter. Where were convicts / undesirables sent. I have read that Eastern Siberia was not opened up for settlements until later in the 18th century. Therefore were Peter's settlements much closer to home and if so where?

Many thanks

[agordon2000]

He was in the habit of using prisoners for his projects. He brought some to Voronezh in the Ukraine to build boats, others to build St Petersburg.  Later after conquering Estonia he sent them to the port at Rågervik. He put them to work in Azov with their families which he had just conquered. They were to be rowers. Peter also sent people to settle Siberia and branded them or cut off their noses so they could not escape and go to the city. .