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How did Ashur become the national god of Assyria?

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Historical map showing ancient Mesopotamia with labeled locations of major archaeological and historical sites. Symbols and color codes indicate sites from the prehistoric era, Sumerian-Akkadian culture, Babylonian and Neo-Babylonian eras, Assyrian civilization, Hurrian era, late Persian, Greek, and Parthian eras, as well as marshland areas. The map covers the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, including present-day Iraq and surrounding areas.
Mesopotamian religion

In Mesopotamian religion, Ashur originated as the local city god of the ancient capital of Assyria that shared his name. His elevation to a national deity was intrinsically linked to the rise of the Assyrian state as a vigorous, warlike empire.1

The Assyrians believed that Ashur granted them the right to rule and provided divine support for their military campaigns; consequently, kings submitted detailed reports of their conquests to him. As the empire expanded, his status was bolstered through theological associations with other major deities. From approximately 1800 BCE, there were efforts to identify him with the Sumerian god Enlil, and later, under Sargon II, he was linked to Anshar in the creation myth.1

Under Sennacherib, the state made deliberate attempts to transfer the primeval achievements and rituals of the Babylonian god Marduk to Ashur, reflecting the intense political rivalry between Assyria and Babylonia. Ultimately, Ashur functioned as a personification of Assyrian political interests.1